Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To Kill a Mockingbird shows how we should empathize before judging to understand others. This is shown through Atticus’ empathy, Scout’s growing empathy, and the symbol of the mockingbird. How the book emphasizes empathy for others displays why this is important. Harper Lee’s to Kill a Mockingbird shows how we should empathize to understand others before we judge them through Atticus’ empathy, Scout’s growing empathy, and the symbol of the mockingbird. Atticus’ empathy for others throughout the book is a good example for how and why to empathize with others. Atticus is talking to Scout about empathizing, in this case for Boo Radley. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb …show more content…

Scout empathizes for Mayella and her situation, comparing to Dolphus Raymond who can live how he wants just because he owns land and such. “She couldn’t live like Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who preferred the company of Negroes, because she didn’t own a riverbank and she wasn’t from a fine old family. Nobody said, “That’s just their way,” about the Ewells. Maycomb gave them Christmas baskets, welfare money, and the back of its hand.” (Lee) Scout is thinking about Mayella Ewell, and how her status in the lower class is socially constricting. She compares Dolphus Raymond’s situation, who comes from a prominent family and can live as he pleases to Mayella, who belongs to a very poor family that the community looks upon with pity. Atticus talks to Jem about the incident between Bob Ewell at Atticus. Scout really learns from her father’s empathy and combines that with new insights to make an interesting connection to Hitler. “I heard her (Miss Gates) say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-” (Lee 283) In Scout’s growing empathy and maturity, she realizes how wrong and hypocritical the people surrounding Tom Robinson’s situation