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Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

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Harper Lee uses the positive motif of education to teach eight-year-old Jean Louise Finch (Scout) the diverse journey of intellect to guide her towards the main theme of empathy. Scout’s middle-class background contrasts the setting of a poor, small farming town, due to this she lacks the experience to fully comprehend the effects of poverty. In addition, the caste system led her to stereotype her classmates by their last names, unable to see past their hardships, lack of manners and schooling. Her father (Atticus Finch Maycomb) however is an empathetic man who attempts to educate his daughter on the importance of empathy: “‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand …show more content…

In spite of that, being intelligent can have many meanings other than academically. Lee utilizes Atticus Finch to teach Scout to explore towards the truth rather than naively trust the town’s gossip. This is represented through school, despite the low levels of academic learning, the social and ethical lessons she practices at school aid her towards the goal of empathy. Moreover, the introduction of Scout’s first year of school introduces the concept of social intelligence through her interactions with her teacher Miss Caroline (recently moved into the area). Scout’s intelligence of her small town contrasts her teacher due to experience; although it is not seen as academically smart her knowledge surpasses Miss Caroline in this subject. Furthermore, while arguing with her father about the negatives of school, Scout learns to empathize with her teacher's confusion saying that “ if…I had put [myself] in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part. [I] could not expect her to learn all Maycomb’s ways in one day, and [I] could not hold her responsible when she knew no better” (Lee

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