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To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Essay

557 Words3 Pages

“Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control” ("Steven Pinker Quote")These words spoken by Steven Pinker are hundred percent true. To Kill a Mockingbird’s empathy theme is still relevant today, because it can be found in events such as Sandy Hooks Elementary School and in a Poem named I Have Empathy For You. All the rumors that were going around maycomb about Boo Radley and all the people that were afraid of him, Scout and Jem were like the only people that did not judge him. However In Chapter 31 Scout begins to take the time to see things in Boo Radley’s perspective for instance when scout made a remark at the end of the book “ you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them” (Lee ). This expression is really true empathy. Because as she standing on Boo Radley’s porch Scout starts feeling compassion for him. Scout is really able to see Boo as a human rather than an awkward neighborhood. On December 14, 2012 in Newtown Connecticut a 20 year old young man named Adam Lanza, shot 20 children and 6 adults that were staff members. Overall Adam Lanza killed 27 …show more content…

For instance the situation with the Sandy Hooks Elementary School and other situation that has gone on in this generation today such has the Ferguson trail. Individual’s that have lost someone have to forgive another individual for their own sake, because you can not live with anger and resentment. because an individual will never get anywhere in life. empathy allows you to do many

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601 Words | 3 Pages

The book To Kill A Mockingbird, is about social issues through the eyes of a little girl, Scout finch. The book takes place in the dead town of Macomb county where life is so boring the main source of entertainment to the youth and elderly is the mysterious family the Radleys. The Radleys live in a creepy house with all sorts of legends the son, Boo Radley gets specific attention for not leaving the house, rumors of him are told such as, he’s a killer who roams the night and eats cats when in reality he is just a victim to an

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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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660 Words | 3 Pages

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee presents the idea that in order to gain empathy one must go through many experiences because the more one morally develops the higher their ability becomes to understand others. Going through many experiences can help one to grow morally. In To Kill a Mockingbird the character Jem shows throughout the book to be going through the changes of moral development in comparison to Dill who is younger yet has already progressed faster. In the beginning of the novel he is a young boy who believes that those older should be respected. Foolish and naive, he believes whatever gossip is told to him and believes that whatever he thinks is the truth.

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809 Words | 4 Pages

"You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them”(Page 798). This is a very important lesson to know in life because it explains why a man does the things he does. If this lesson of empathy is applied to life, the true characteristics of man will be revealed. To Kill a Mockingbird is the perfect example of empathy. The novel plainly states empathy all thought out the book and the examples can easily be applied to our lives.

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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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1212 Words | 5 Pages

It is very important that writers are able to send a message to their reader with their book. Authors best do this by bringing about empathy. In order to send this message, authors often develop strong characters that go through various problems and struggles. The book, To Kill a Mockingbird, shows this very well with its characters Scout Finch and Tom Robinson. This book helps the readers learn from the character’s reactions to their problems.

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545 Words | 3 Pages

"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. "- Atticus Finch. This famous quote teaches Jean-Louise Finch (Scout) an important lesson about empathy from the beginning with Miss Caroline and reoccurs throughout the novel, anding aiding her coming-of-age in the end as she walks Arthur Radley home. Not only does Scout learn to “walk in another man's skin” but Atticus is forced to teach Scout’s older brother, Jem, the same lesson.

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566 Words | 3 Pages

Empathic Ways Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird many of the characters experience empathy. For example, Atticus Finch, the father of the main character, shows feelings of empathy through his ways of payment with the Cunningham. Similarly, his daughter, and the main character, Scout Shows empathy with her being able to finally understand how Arthur (Boo) Radley feels and thinks. Finally, Tom Robinson, the man sent to court for the accusations of raping a white woman, would help Mayella Ewell, the woman he was accused of raping, whenever she needed it because he felt sorry for her.

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719 Words | 3 Pages

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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1086 Words | 5 Pages

Lack Of Empathy Leads To An Imbalance Of Power: Former president Barack Obama once stated, “It’s the lack of empathy that makes it very easy for us to plunge into wars.” Obama infers that when people lose empathy for others, they lose the ability to understand others, which is a key emotion that helps people to interact with others. Furthermore, his quote connects to Marxism, a literary theory involving an imbalance of power. In the story “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the characters’ experiences prove to the reader the significance that a lack of empathy can cause to the balance of power. An application of Marxism reveals that an imbalance of authoritative power is caused by a lack of empathy.

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895 Words | 4 Pages

Nevertheless, as she blossomed and matured, she started seeing things from other’s perspectives. Eventually, standing on the Radley porch showed her a different side of Boo than she had previously known. In the beginning, Scout perceives Boo as a malicious mysterious man and cannot fathom why he stays in his house. In the end, after seeing how Maycomb treats innocent lives, Scout recognizes Boo as a hero and understands Boo’s actions. Scout empathizes with Boo after understanding his life from his perspective.

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899 Words | 4 Pages

The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic novel that revolves mainly around theme and character interaction. Theme is a very important aspect of the book because it sets up major events in the story, and connects it with the modern world. Many issues in the novel still come up today such as race. Character interaction is also very important in the book because the characters learn from each other and grow together. Theme and character interaction are two main forces in the book.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird has many of underlying themes such as racism, courage, respect, femininity, etc. But the theme that fits this book most appropriately is innocence and the harm caused to the innocent by evil and bigotry. Examples of this include Jem, Dill, Tom Robinson, Boo Radley. While all these characters have completely different personalities and circumstances they all have one thing in common. All of them were innocent at one point and were harmed by the evil of

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622 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the character Atticus possesses the most compassion out of the other characters. Atticus is a man of profession, however, his compassionate heart can not be overlooked. Atticus tells Jem to "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Lee 81) to display his compassion for those who are innocent. Compassion is the concern for the suffering or misfortune of others.

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