Examples Of Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird : Looking Beyond To have compassion is to have the ability to look beyond yourself and be keenly aware of the world around you. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the protagonists undoubtedly display compassion for others through the many life-altering experiences, ultimately developing the minds of the characters and the way they act, feel and comprehend situations. It is conspicuous that Arthur Radley typifies compassion when he takes care of both Jem and Scout in specific situations in the novel, which increasingly uncovers the main message; Miss Maudie continuously shows compassion toward people looked down upon by other individuals and the society. Moreover, Atticus demonstrates compassion throughout the novel

Atticus’ compassion makes him more aware of the truth’s of society that are hard to understand, including with Mrs. Dubose. After she dies, Atticus explains to his children, “According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew” (Lee 149). Atticus’ compassion allows him to understand different perspectives of people, including Mrs. Dubose, and he knows that she fought to end her morphine addiction. He is teaching the children to look beyond themselves, and into why other people act the way they do. Moreover, Atticus’ compassion extends even to the people whom are deemed as “trash” and who supposedly should be his enemies. Jem is talking to Atticus about the current conditions, and Atticus elucidates, “So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody, and I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children there” (Lee 292). Although Mayella is on the other side of the case, Atticus still shows compassion, which helps him to realize the real situation of Mayella. Atticus’ compassion affects the way he feels, as he’ll gladly take the threats instead of Mayella getting beat. Lastly, Atticus’ compassion for Tom Robinson allows him to act the right way, even if it is against society's beliefs. Atticus tells his two innocent children, “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” (Lee 39). Not one other lawyer wants to take the case, but due Atticus’ compassion for Tom, he sympathetically pities him, which allows him to view the world differently. Atticus’ compassion results in him being viewed as a symbol of good. In the community of Maycomb, people are against him, but