Compassion and understanding refer to the deep sympathy and grief for others when they encounter misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the pain, as well as the psychological process of comprehending. Thus, in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee demonstrates the theme of needing compassion and understanding from the audience through events that the main characters experience that force readers to reflect upon their own society and see how the social issues of Maycomb are still prevalent today and conclude that without compassion and understanding for others, we cannot take action against these issues, so the cycle of prejudice and injustice continues.
Throughout the novel there are several prejudice and racist events
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Lee depicts the necessity of compassion and understanding with this moment seeing that current day readers can clearly make the connection with how issues of prejudice, racial injustice, and discrimination continue to effect countless of lives today, this reflection on the truths of our society force readers to realize that if they continue to insensitivity to these issues and choose to “look the other way” then these problems will continue to destroy our society. The second and third incidents are very similar. In which the majority of Maycomb immediately take Mayella’s side and go against Tom before the trial, together with the fear Tom expresses during the trail even when the truths exposed. Both moments illustrate to readers the importance of leading with compassion and understanding because they can infer that the reason why Tom feels such fear is due to the lack of compassion and understanding for him in the court room which results due to discrimination and racist ideals. The audience becomes aware that if the court casted away their prejudice and granted Tom compassion, sympathy, and understanding then the entire novel would have gone an entirely different direction and Tom Robinson