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How Is The Theme Of Empathy Shown In To Kill A Mockingbird

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"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a novel which portrays the social and racial injustices of the 1950's through the 1960's. Written by Harper Lee, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a fictional story that takes place in the static city of Maycomb during a time filled with racial injustice. What starts of being a tale of a group of children having fun and playing silly games quickly turns into a captivating and dramatic story filled with the crisis of conscience, racial grievance, and a battle between a lawyer and his family against what seems like the rest of the world. This novel demonstrates many themes throughout it's assortment of lovable characters, one of the main themes displayed by these characters is empathy. Characters Atticus Finch and Boo Radley illustrate …show more content…

Harper Lee develops empathy through Atticus' involvements with Tom Robinson throughout the story and uses his actions and what he speaks of him to develop a culture of empathy. for example, on page 100 Harper Lee states, "there's been some high talk around the town to the affect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man... If I didn't, I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you and Jem not to do something again... because I could never ask you to mind me again." This portrays how much Atticus empathizes with Tom, he knows that this could mean the end for him and that majority of the town doesn't want him to defend Tom but if he didn't do what's right then he would lose his honor and would feel as if he didn't have the right to anything anymore. This really shows his conscience and his ability to empathize with Tom and it helps build a culture of empathy with his family by telling Scout this but also relaying the message to the rest of the town that he has to do what's right for the sake of

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501 Words | 3 Pages

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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493 Words | 2 Pages

Another well known lesson taught by Atticus is about empathy. Empathy is defined as: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This is shown in chapter three when Scout encountered some problems with her new, first grade teacher, Mrs. Caroline. The little girl was mature well beyond her years, therefore, when she was asked to read out loud, Scout read with near perfect fluency. However, the teacher was surprisingly displeased with her advanced level in literature and flow, and assuming it was Atticus who was educating his daughter, Mrs. Caroline wanted the ‘lessons’ to come to a stop.

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820 Words | 4 Pages

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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601 Words | 3 Pages

The book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is a thriller and domestic fiction. Scout is six years old when going through racism with her older brother Jem, while their father, Atticus Finch, helps out a fellow black man by being his lawyer because Bob Ewell has blamed the crime of raping his daughter on Tom. The town of Maycomb has a few other secrets, like the story of Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose's struggles, and Ewell's case. The mockingbird is often used throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird because it resembles the theme that you shouldn’t bother with something that doesn’t bother you. The characters who best resemble a mockingbird are Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch, and Jem and Scout.

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751 Words | 4 Pages

Maturity is a lesson provided from experiences. As children age they’re faced with more challenges to overcome and can experience a new reality. In chapter 12 of To Kill a Mockingbird in which Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout (both white) to the “First Purchase African M.E. Church”, author Harper Lee uses dialogue and imagery to develop the theme of empathy to understand what it’s like to be judged based on the color of one's skin. For instance, by witnessing the dialogue between Calpurnia and Lula, Scout and Jem begin to realize the true feeling of unwelcomeness.

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566 Words | 3 Pages

Atticus, Scout, and Tom are just a few of the many characters that show empathy in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

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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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Understanding Empathy in To kill a Mockingbird After dinner Atticus & Scout go to the porch to read when Scout brings up her troubles at school. Atticus then advises Scout with a way to better understand people. Lee writes, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view–until you climb into his skin & walk around in it”(15). I believe this quote serves as a way for Scout to grow, for her to learn & understand the different levels of empathy she can share with someone. It’s also important as it speaks to the reader, we learn more on empathy through Scout as the story progresses.

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Brynna Baggs Ms. Reed Pd. 2 03/10/2022 How do characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird” show/develop empathy? Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy is being able to put yourself in another person's shoes and understand their feelings.

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Scout and Jem develop empathy throughout "To Kill a Mockingbird" by experiencing different perspectives and events that broaden their understanding of the world and the people in it. In the mid-1950s, just before the peak of the American civil rights movement, Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" to explore the consequences of hatred and prejudice in Maycomb County, Alabama, where racial and age boundaries prevented people from displaying empathy. Harper Lee explores the power of empathy in her Southern Gothic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" through the narrator and protagonist Scout and her elder brother Jem. Scout is a young child who is still learning and developing an understanding of emotions and social cues.

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704 Words | 3 Pages

When reading To Kill a Mockingbird a fiction novel by Harper Lee,there are atrocities that will cause the reader to empathy for the people,because the people are misunderstood and disliked , this going for almost every character in the book in their own ways To have empathy is to understand what somebody is going through, being able to understand because you probably have been through the same or similar things. I think that a man more so a child should never go throw some of the things that Tom Robinson and Walter Cunningham go through , there misunderstood by everyone,mistreated by the other folks, both live and are victims of poverty . Tom Robinson and I are both misunderstood , hurt and victims of poverty making him one of

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607 Words | 3 Pages

What would the world look like without empathy? Empathy plays a big part in everything around us, and in everyday life you can see it. In literature, empathy can be developed in a character through the circumstances of the plot and guide a character’s development. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, this is seen with the character of Scout. There are some interactions in the book that support this.

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833 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine if you had a friend who came every summer to fill your head with fantastical stories, go on adventures with you, and maybe even get into a bit of trouble. For Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, Dill is the perfect friend for all those scenarios. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mocking Bird, Dill shows up for the first time in the summer before Scout goes to first grade. He immediately becomes best friends with Jem (Jeremy) and Scout Finch. Every summer after that, Dill goes on countless adventures and runs into far too many mishaps with his friends.

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896 Words | 4 Pages

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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