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Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Empathy. The ability to understand what someone else is going through by putting oneself in their place and situation. All throughout history, people have struggled with the concept of empathy. For example, Jews have been mistreated for hundreds of years on numerous occasions by those of an advantaged position, African Americans have been subjugated by the privileged White throughout much of American history, and this struggle is even seen today with the prejudice towards Muslims across the world. Harper Lee created a timeless piece of literature that has lived on for plenty of years because of its theme of empathy and the challenges that the characters face regarding it. In her book To Kill A Mockingbird, readers observe the challenge …show more content…

The first example of this can be seen when Atticus questions Tom asking him why he ran away when he saw Bob Ewell. Tom answers, “Mr. Finch, if you was a nigger like me, you’d be scared, too” (Lee 261). Atticus asks this question because he wants everyone in the crowd to hear Tom’s constant grapple with racism in his everyday life. Everyone needed to realize this reality to empathize with Tom. They were previously unable to see his side of the event because of their closed minds. The people of Maycomb were generally stuck in their own world and their own problems and had never even considered seeing things from Tom’s standpoint before judging him and accusing him of rape. One specific spectator that was mentioned was Miss Gates, Scout’s schoolteacher. Scout was frustrated with her teacher because of the things she said coming out of the courthouse: “‘...it’s time somebody taught ‘em [the Black community of Maycomb and in general] a lesson. They were gettin’ way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us’” (Lee 331). Miss Gates’s attitude towards Tom and the Black community is exactly why Atticus tried to open the town’s eyes to the reality of racism. She was so narrow-minded that she denied to recognize the other side of the controversy, let alone empathize with those who support it. The

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During the trial of Tom Robinson, for being accused of raping a white women. Some people in the town turned their backs on Atticus for taken the case. Atticus took the case and has proven that Tom is innocent but as Atticus knows since Tom is a “Black Male” that he would never be treated fairly. When the closing argument comes about, Atticus tells the people on the jury that they need to look past Tom being “Black Man” and see him and treat him just as a regular man. Atticus is trying to have them do the right thing instead of listening to the town and doing the wrong thing.

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To Kill A Mockingbird was definitely worth the read. Yes I did admit that. Harper Lee does an amazing job expressing themes throughout the book. I chose empathy, and to me empathy is when we consider eachothers attitudes and situations from another viewpoint and identify another perspective to an issue. In the book, Scout learns empathy, Atticus teaches empathy and Tom needs empathy.

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The Oxford English Dictionary defines empathy as “the power of projecting one’s personality into the object of contemplation.” Furthermore, Katie Rose Guest Pryal proposes that empathy takes action, not just a feeling and emotion. Often confused with sympathy, empathy requires the ability to understand a predicament from another person’s perspective, while sympathy only entails the feeling of pity for another ’s difficulty. Although, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus advocates to empathize with others, Pryal rather implies that Atticus exhibits sympathy.

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To Kill A Mockingbird Literary Analysis As defined in the dictionary, empathy is “the ability to share someone else’s feelings” (Merriam -Webster). Empathy is portrayed through emotions such as pity, compassion, and understanding. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, empathy can be found consistently in the actions and words of the characters. This repetition establishes kindness and sympathy towards specific characters, while building up hatred towards others.

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Justin Sun Gahagan Period 4 26 May 2023 Parenting Parenting that emphasizes empathy can directly impact a child’s ability to feel empathy for others. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Aunt Alexandra asks Atticus if “it was wise in the first place to let” Jem and Scout into the courtroom, as Jem cries about the trial of Tom Robinson (Lee 285). Aunt Alexandra tries to protect Jem and Scout from the trial of Tom Robinson and the prejudice of Maycomb. However, Atticus teaches Aunt Alexandra that the adults “made it this way for them, [and] they might as well learn to cope with it” (Lee 285).

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Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. To me the word empathy in “To Kill A Mockingbird” means “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” suggests that empathy is a universal feeling, but everyone experiences it in different occasions and in different ways. Many people empathize through real life experiences. Scout is one of those people.

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Heba lokonoi Mrs. Richardson ENG2DI-01 Scout Recognizing Empathy To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless, southern gothic novel written by Harper Lee. In 1960, Harper Lee decides to write To Kill a Mockingbird in response to the issues that surround racial discrimination, and the civil rights movement. The narrative follows a middle-class family, in Maycomb Alabama, during the height of the Great Depression. The Finch family includes a young girl, named Scout, Jem, Atticus, Aunt Alexandra, and their maid/caretaker, Calpurnia.

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These actions caused by the society advise Scout about people and the existence of Maycomb. For example, when Scout and Miss Maudie are discussing how some men were born to do undesirable jobs for the world, Scout says, “I always thought Maycomb folks were the best folks in the world, least that’s what they seemed like” (218). Scout is definitely learning the shady elements in reality of Maycomb, from the undesirable jobs to unpleasant people, they come from cowards. Miss Maudie realizes how prejudice citizens are about colored citizens and others unreasonable assumptions. In addition, when Atticus was strolling by the Post Office, Bob Ewell approaches him and spat in his face after stating he would get him if it took him the rest of his life.

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The effects of empathy in to Kill a Mockingbird Empathy is a main theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee weaves the theme of empathy through many characters. This story takes place in a town called Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s. White town folks treat black people bad in Maycomb, but characters show empathy to both colored and white people. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she shows the good and bad sides of empathy in characters like Atticus, Jem, and Scout.

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To Kill a Mockingbird empathy plays a big role in the character’s lives. People’s ability to understand empathy determines their quality of life. When empathy is used correctly and in the right way, it can make a huge positive impact on someone’s life. Empathy is something that people gain as they lose their childhood innocence, but that doesn’t mean that they will be able to use it to help people.

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The moment Atticus is appointed to be the defender of Tom Robinson, he knows that if he really takes on this role of a defender, Maycomb’s society is going to ostracize him. Defending a black male who is accused of having raped a white woman is not only Alabama in the 1930s a capital offense in Alabama in the 1930s, but lands him in difficulties as he and his kids have to face hostility in Maycomb. A classmate tells Scout that “my folks say your daddy was a disgrace an’ that nigger oughta hand from the water-tank!” (Lee 87). She discovers what Maycomb’s population thinks of her father.

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After news of Atticus defending a colored man named Tom Robinson spreads around town, people think less of Atticus. Scout’s schoolmates start teasing and insulting Atticus which leads to a fight, but Atticus tells Scout that “ no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home” (Lee 79). Atticus fully understands the situation and empathizes with Scout that he understands and why she would act in such way. Atticus also knows that in the long run, it is better to prevent Scout from fighting, so he sacrifices a part of his own dignity and reputation for her assurance that all is good, even though other people may judge. The sense of caring heart and understanding for Scout that Atticus influences upon his children are in some ways a form of empathy because it is a way for Atticus to understand their situation and their hardships.

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When Scout comes home after her awful first day of school and complains about her teacher getting frustrated with her, Atticus teaches her that “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (39). Instead of being upset about it, Atticus tells her that she should think about how her teacher must feel after having to deal with a class of rowdy children. By being kind and understanding, Atticus teaches her to think about others, an important lesson that influences Scout for the rest of her life. An additional idea that Scout retains, this time through real-world experience, is when she learns about prejudice from Tom Robinson’s trial. Atticus is hired to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man, in court against rape charges.

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“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”(Lee 30). These are the words of Atticus Finch, the wisest character in the famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. He is a fictional man that embodies human traits that all people should strive to emulate. In the novel; narrated by Atticus’ daughter Jean Louise Finch, more often referred to as Scout; Atticus defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white female, Mayella Ewell. The main message of the text is the prominence of racial injustice, specifically in the 1930’s, the era the novel takes place in.

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