ipl-logo

Empathy Examples In To Kill A Mockingbird

754 Words4 Pages

Empathy-the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy is showed in To Kill a Mockingbird many times. One example of empathy is shown when Mrs. Maudie is telling the kids not to bother Boo Radley. Another example of empathy is when Atticus is being really nice to Mrs. Dubose. A third example of empathy in the story is when Atticus defends Tom Robinson in the case. Empathy is great and everyone should be empathetic to someone.
First of all, Mrs. Maudie shows empathy for Boo Radley. One thing she did was tell the kids that he wasn’t dead and "Arthur Radley just stays in the house, that's all....Wouldn't you stay in the house if you didn't want to come out?"(Page 44) This is being nice because she is telling the kids that …show more content…

Dubose. Mrs. Dubose was being really mean to Scout and Jem but even after all of that Atticus was being nice to her. "Don't you say hey to me, you ugly girl! You say good afternoon, Mrs. Dubose!"(Page 103) She also said to Jem “Don’t you lie to me!” she yelled. “Jeremy Finch, Maudie Atkinson told me you broke down her scuppernong arbor this morning. She’s going to tell your father and then you’ll wish you never saw the light of day! If you aren’t sent to the reform school before next week, my name’s not Dubose!”(Page 104) This is a complete lie that never happened and she is just trying to get Jem mad. Another quote that Mrs. Dubose says is “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!”(Page 105) and these are just some examples of her being mean and after that Atticus was still very nice to Mrs. Dubose. Atticus would take off his hat, wave to her and say, "Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look pretty as a picture this evening."(Page 103) The reason that he was being so nice was that Mrs. Dubose was addicted to painkillers, and she wanted quit before she died. She had Jem read to her so that she could have a distraction. Jem did not know any of this until later, but Atticus knew that he could explain it and Jem would …show more content…

Atticus tried as hard as he could even when he already knew that he would lose. "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win."(Page 78) This means that just because he knew that he would lose is no reason to not at least try and even have a small chance to win the case. Atticus used a lot of time trying to win the case for him and thought of as much evidence as he could to defend Tom Robinson."She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man. Not an old Uncle, but a strong young Negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards."(Page 207) He is saying that Mayella didn’t think that there would be a trial and that Tom would go to jail until after everything happened. This is just one of the very detailed pieces of evidence that probably took up a long time to think of. In conclusion there are many examples of empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird the first example is shown when Mrs. Maudie tells the kids not to bother Boo Radley, the second example is when Atticus is nice to Mrs. Dubose. The last example of empathy is when Atticus defends Tom in the case even knowing that he will lose. Overall empathy is great and everyone should be empathetic to

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    607 Words  | 3 Pages

    Empathy is a very important trait to have, as it can help us understand the situations that other people are going through. This is shown in the character of Scout in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. When Atticus finds out about how his kids treat and speak about Boo Radley, immediately he tries to put a stop to it. ¨I´m going to tell you something, and tell you one time only: stop tormenting that man¨ (Lee 49). This affects Scout because from now on she goes about talking and treating Boo Radley in a better manner than before.

    Read More

  • How Does Pryal Show Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    524 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Oxford English Dictionary defines empathy as “the power of projecting one’s personality into the object of contemplation.” Furthermore, Katie Rose Guest Pryal proposes that empathy takes action, not just a feeling and emotion. Often confused with sympathy, empathy requires the ability to understand a predicament from another person’s perspective, while sympathy only entails the feeling of pity for another ’s difficulty. Although, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus advocates to empathize with others, Pryal rather implies that Atticus exhibits sympathy.

    Read More

  • How Does Boo Radley Change In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1430 Words  | 6 Pages

    I think that was her way of telling you – everything’s alright now, Jem, everything’s alright now. You know, she was a great lady." (148) Even if Mrs. Dubose did not always show her affection and care towards them, she still did truly like them. This quote shows how she cared for Jem and his feelings and wanted to reassure him that it is okay

    Read More

  • Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    666 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tom Robinson, unfortunately, acts empathetic to the wrong person and later pays the price for doing so. In the trial, Tom shares that he decides to help Mayella Ewell with simple tasks when he is asked to. Tom Robinson does not understand being empathetic to certain people can affect his life. During his testimony, he states, “‘I was just trying to help her out suh. ’”(Lee 263)

    Read More

  • Gem Courage Quotes

    658 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dubose’s camellias on purpose. Even though this may seem reckless and out of resentment, it really was to support his father and his views after Mrs. Dubose made fun of Atticus in front of Jem: “Not only a Finch waiting tables but one in the courthouse lawing for niggers!” (Lee 135) This quote causes Jem’s fit of wrath and also gets him in trouble with his father and results in him having to read to Mrs. Dubose as punishment. Ironically, however, Atticus tells Jem that regardless of what Mrs. Dubose said about him that she was the bravest woman he knew: “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    719 Words  | 3 Pages

    “In the corner of the room was a brass bed, and in the bed was Mrs. Dubose. I wondered if Jems activities had put her there and for a moment I felt sorry for her.” The reason why Jem and Scout were at Mrs. Dubose’s house, was because Jem and Scout were walking by her house when Dubose started yelling at the kids saying that Atticus is not any better than the “niggers and trash he works for.” Jem lost his temper and takes Scouts baton he bought for her and snaps it in half. Jem destroys all of

    Read More

  • Empathy Quotes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1164 Words  | 5 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1045 Words  | 5 Pages

    You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad.” (111). Atticus does not only teach his children about stepping into others' shoes, but he tries his best to understand another person’s emotions. He understood why Mrs. Dubose was getting angry and he didn’t feel bothered by her negative comments because of it.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Kindheartedness Quotes

    609 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kindness is a universal language that everyone understands and should be willing to speak. In “To Kill a Mockingbird” one theme that has been internalized is the theme of compassion. Harper Lee truly understood the power that kindheartedness can have on a person. She wanted her audience to understand that being a kind person beats being a bitter person any day. “One can trap more flies with sugar than vinegar,” this quote embodies Harper Lee’s purpose in writing TKAM.

    Read More

  • Deceived Appearances In To Kill A Mockingbird

    503 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the novel mrs. dubose is written off as a mean, and bitter old woman. On page 133 scout describes her a vicious and disrespectful. Scout also says “ we could do nothing to please her. If i said as sunnily as i could “hey , Mrs.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Kindness In To Kill A Mockingbird

    864 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jem usually ignores people who talk trash about their family but when someone insults Atticus he would be furious but Atticus teaches him to be a gentleman and ignore the hateful comments. One other neighbor, Boo Radley is always behind doors but he shows Scout that he is not a bad person. Atticus knew it was Boo who covered up Scout but Scout says “Thank who?” and Atticus replies with “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you” (72).

    Read More

  • Jem's Changes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    733 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jem was stunned, but even more so when he received a parting gift from Mrs.Dubose. It was a camelia from her garden. His initial reaction was negative, but Scout later sees him holding it with care. Jem learned through this experience that showing regardless kindness to everyone is important because every person is fighting a battle of their

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Courage In To Kill A Mockingbird

    965 Words  | 4 Pages

    Whenever they would walk past her house, she would shout hateful and insulting comments at them. Atticus told them to not let her comments affect them. One day, Mrs. Dubose made a comment about Atticus defending Tom Robinson. The comment was hateful and racist toward Atticus and Tom. Jem was angered by her comment and fueled by rage, cut down all of Mrs. Dubose 's camellia bushes.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Honesty In To Kill A Mockingbird

    888 Words  | 4 Pages

    A person cannot call themselves a noble person if they can’t understand others. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is told in first person by Jean Louise Finch or by her nickname, Scout a 6-year-old. Harper Lee, depicts Atticus Finch as a proficient father to his two children, Scout and Jim, 10-year-old. Atticus teaches his children life lessons, one being it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

    Read More

  • Atticus Father Analysis

    1027 Words  | 5 Pages

    So don’t let Mrs. Dubose get you down. She has enough troubles of her own” (pg. 124). Consequently, this short sentiment displays Atticus’ unfailing desire to find everyone agreeable despite the circumstances and does well as an example for his growing children. Furthermore, he presents his unconditional love by following, possibly unconsciously, the commandments of the Bible where it lies said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Not once in the pages of the To Kill a Mockingbird novel does Atticus result into severe and unfair disciple toward Jem and Scout, rather he determinedly instructs them in the ways of tenderness.

    Read More

More about Empathy Examples In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document