Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

F. Scott Fitzgerald, a well known classic novelist, once wrote, “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone… just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve has.”. These powerful words can teach one to care for those around them through differences and similarities. Being empathetic will get a person much farther than being judgemental in this world. Likewise, empathy is also a main lesson in the classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Set in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s, when stereotypes and judgmental stigmas were at their peaks in the United States, the reader witnesses a heartbreaking trial and death of Tom Robinson. Robinson is a black man that is wrongly discriminated

Like manner, empathy is shown by Atticus, Scout’s father, teaching Jem, Scout’s elder brother, after the trial of Tom Robinson that Bob Ewell, the father of the prosecutor, has a reason to hate Atticus. Bob had previously spit in Atticus’ face out of spite. Atticus states, “‘Jem, if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does.’” (Lee 218). Atticus’ lesson to Jem teaches him that just because he disagrees with Bob’s vulgar actions towards Atticus, he should still try to understand why Bob was so enraged and acted out like that. Atticus is not saying that Bob’s wrongdoing was acceptable, but instead, he is saying Jem needs to see both sides of the situation. Lastly, on a quiet night Scout finds a little bug and starts to entertain herself by frightening it. Jem is trying to get Scout to stop bothering the bug because he realizes the bug is committing no crime nor disturbing any peace,

Although the modern world is less judgmental of those of color and different genders today, one can still experience the enforcement of stereotypes in their daily life. They can be in subtle ways that we do not question, or they can be shown in a big discussion that has some people advocating their beliefs while some are discriminating. One example that can be experienced by anyone in today’s society is kid products in stores. Clothing, toys, school supplies, and even sports equipment can be altered to fit the stereotypes of boys and girls. All of the girl’s products are pink and have princesses on them. However, not every girl enjoys pink or fantasy lands. Some girls tend to want to go play in the mud and admire famous athletes instead of princesses. On the other hand, all of the boy’s products are dark color (such as blue, red, and green) or have media that represents a superhero or famous athlete printed on them. Not every boy will like to be dirty, participate in sports, or wear dark colors. None of the companies producing these products stop to realize boys can like princesses (or perhaps princes) and the color pink just as much as girls can. These stereotypes are extremely damaging to the developing human brain because the kids are being taught