How Does Lee Use Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

“Instead of putting others in their place put yourself in their place.” To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a novel that has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and has been a best seller for 40 plus years. It was first published in 1960. Jem, Scout, Atticus, Calpurnia, and Boo Radley are some of the main characters in the book. Jem and Scout, being so young and innocent are threatened by how evil humans can be. In chapter 3, when Scout is scolded for being rude to Walter Cunningham, or when Atticus talks about how you never really understand someone unless you walk around in their shoes, and in chapter 21 when Scout stands on Boo Radley’s front porch and imagines the world from his perspective. The Author uses these acts of empathy or lack of empathy to help teach Scout and the reader a lesson. It also causes the reader to reflect on themselves and how they

Jem got a broken arm in all the ruckus and was unconscious. HE was laying in bed when Scout looked over and saw Boo Radley behind the door. That was the first and last time she saw Boo. Scout then asked Atticus if she could bring Boo home, and he said yes. So Scout and Boo walked to his house. Once they got to the porch, Boo went inside and Scout stayed on the porch and said “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on Boo’s porch was enough.” The Author uses Scouts’ character and the themes empathy and growing up to show that she learned, for her dad, that even though at the start she didn’t know why Boo stays inside. Standing in his shoes and being empathetic helped her realize that the reason he stays inside was because he doesn’t want a lot of attention and he wants peace and quiet. The sheriff also said to keep the incident a secret so Boo could have his peace and quiet without people walking up to his door thanking