Empathy, a most basic human quality, but how many can define it. Empathy according to the Oxford Canadian dictionary empathy is the power of identifying oneself mentally with (and so fully comprehending) a person or object of contemplation, but what does this mean? In simpler terms empathy is the ability to share the thoughts and feelings of another being or object. If that's the definition where can we find examples of this trait that has long been forgotten by society? In Harper Lee’s award winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird, a tale about friendship, loyalty, loss, and perhaps most importantly a story about empathy. Mr. Atticus Finch one of the main characters in the novel is one of the best examples of empathy, as it is thickly entwined …show more content…
An old town, and a tired one at that, it’s a town where the respect of others is valued above the dollar, a place where your ancestors dictated who you were, a place embedded in the Southern way of living. The result of this mentality is racism, where Negroes wouldn't dare breathe the same air as a white person, but rising above the racism and societally enforced norms are Atticus Finch. Atticus takes no heed of colour so when Tom robinson’s (a coloured man had been accused of raping a white woman, Miss. Mayella Ewell) case came around he snapped at the opportunity to defend a man he believed innocent. Atticus has faith in this case because of his morals he believes that in the judicial system everyone should be equal, that's the one place on earth any man, no matter what colour of the rainbow they are, they should be treated fairly and equally, but more than all that he believes in the human ability to be good, to do the right thing even when it's the harder thing to do. Even through this he manages to teach his children, he teaches them to be empathetic and to walk around in someone's skin before making any conclusions. Atticus believes that if he can raise his children to realize that the town, the County, the State, and the entire South is sick, sick with racism. If he can teach them that then they may be able to grow and gradually move society from its ways and bring more …show more content…
With their unbeknownst number of kids the Ewell brood, specifically Bob Ewell becomes jealous and outright angry that Atticus would oppose him in the court of law by representing Tom Robinson. Although against the odds Atticus feels empathetic towards the Ewells not necessarily Bob but instead for Mayella, he understands what she is being put through, Suffering through domestic abuse, and in court Atticus even goes so far as to state that he feels sorry for Mayella. To add to this he implies that the man truly guilty of beating Mayella is in the courtroom (Bob Ewell). This did nothing to calm Bob Ewell’s seething manner instead it only escalated it, and in an attempt to get back at atticus he tries to kill his children whom are saved by an unseen and unknown force which killed Mr. Ewell. The precursor towards this however was when Bob Ewell spit on Atticus but even through this Atticus was rational, he thought about it. Carefully, he thought of the reasonings behind why this happened and in one quote he explained to Jem Bob Ewell's reasoning for what he did: “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility... So, if spitting in my face and threatening me saved
In court Atticus disgraces Bob Ewell, by proving him a liar. Tom was found guilty and was shot trying to escape. Bob launches a personal vendetta onto anyone connected to the case. He attacks the children, injuring Jem, and inadvertently killing himself. 2.
Although the court deemed Tom Robinson guilty Atticus uses rhetoric very well to try and convince the all-white jury that Tom Robinson, a black man is innocent. Atticus Finch is a lawyer in a small town in Alabama. He believes that every man should be treated equal and fair in a court of law. But the all-white jury does not agree with Atticus. In this time, the 1930’s many people believed that whites were superior to black.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee explores the theme of empathy through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama. The novel begins with the memorable quote from Atticus Finch, Scout's father, who states, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. " This sets the stage for the overarching message of the novel, which is that it is wrong to harm innocent beings, like the mockingbirds, who bring joy to the world. Through Scout's interactions with a cast of diverse and strongly opinionated characters, Lee demonstrates the power of empathy and its ability to bring people together and break down barriers.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” In life, one cannot back down once they are faced with adversity. There is no better statement than King’s that relays the message of upholding your beliefs. In “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the theme of standing up for what you believe in is developed through Atticus Finch, Calpurnia, and Scout Finch.
Alfred Adler, a physician and physiologist once said “Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.” Understanding empathy is understanding that sometimes you should focus on others feelings instead of your own, and being able to feel what someone else is feeling. In the Novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, there are many examples where Jem and Scout feel empathetic towards others. When Jem and Scout torment Boo Radley, when scout bullies Walter Cunningham, and when Mr, Raymond explains the effects of racism.
Bob Ewell was a despicable character, but unlike the others, he does not deserve the slightest bit of compassion. The Ewell’s have been “the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations”. Bob Ewell was an alcoholic and he spent the family relief cheques on alcohol. He never cared for his children and Mayella, being the oldest, had to care for her siblings all on her own. Mr Ewell beat and sexually abused Mayella and then blamed Tom Robinson instead.
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.
Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird shows that whilst knowledge is important, empathy is an equally important character trait to have. The narrator Scout develops empathy throughout the novel, and Harper Lee champions this as her growing into an adult. The schoolteacher, Miss Caroline, is portrayed as a villain in the novel, because she has no empathy despite her knowledge. Finally, Atticus is seen as the hero and he carefully balances his broad knowledge with empathy and understanding. Harper Lee uses the character Miss Caroline, a schoolteacher, to highlight that knowledge without empathy, is not necessarily valuable.
Throughout history we have seen how parents can dramatically influence the behavior of their children. We know that good teachings were around all the way to 69 BC when Cleopatra had her four sons. Even now authors are still trying to put messages about wise parenting. While reading To Kill a Mockingbird with its inspirational themes, I noticed how parents during this time period had a big impact on the decisions of their children. Throughout the novel of To Kill a Mockingbird examples of good and bad parenting are shown.
Paragraph #3 Furthermore, the most reoccurring character trait that Atticus portrays is empathy. For instance, Atticus shows Scout how he understands and share the feeling of others when Scout had trouble adapted to a new teacher in Maycomb. Atticus shows empathy towards Radley family because he understands that rumors relating to the Radley family causes the family a great deal of trouble and unwanted attention from curious youngsters such as Jem, Dill, and Scout. An instance in the novel when Atticus showed empathy towards the Radleys is on page 65 “I’m going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man.” Atticus says this quote to Jem when he was trying to get Boo Radley outside.
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.
You never know what someones going through until you step into their shoes and walk around in them. Empathy by definition is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It is often developed through exposure to other peoples' worlds. Among the many other lessons in To Kill A Mockingbird empathy is one of the most prominent in the book. After reading one can truly come to the conclusion that loss of innocence can lead one to develop empathy, when they see the mistreatment of others.
"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.
What causes Miss Maudie to say that they have a least made a “baby step” in the right direction is the trial of Tom Robinson and the fact that Atticus was defending him. For a very long time, the African American community was being treated/defended poorly so the fact that someone like Atticus is defending Tom (even if he might lose) is a step forward from the years before. Chapter 23 After Bob Ewell makes threats at Atticus, he makes no reaction out of the situation and continues on with his day as if it had not happened. He knows that Bob still holds a grudge against humiliating the Ewell name in court, and this is how he expresses it. Atticus also does not react because he knows that this may save Mayella from another beating, which he will happily try and stop from occurring.
Harper Lee and Empathy in “To Kill A Mockingbird” By Tanaka Rwodzi In Harper Lee’s critically acclaimed magnum opus “To Kill A Mockingbird;” Lee emphasizes her view on the importance of empathy through how she depicts empathy in regards to the characters Scout, Tom Robinson, and Atticus. “To Kill A Mockingbird” is a novel shown from the view of Scout, a young girl living in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s, and her and her brothers escapades; mainly their captivation over an elusive local resident who doesn’t leave his house, and the drawn-out process of a court case against a black man, Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of rape. Throughout the novel, Harper Lee emphasizes the importance of empathy to her through how she