How To Show Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

Although Americans follow the same rules and government, there is a clear divide between the priorities of the citizens. As with Americans, in Maycomb, Alabama, there is a clear divide in people’s viewpoints. Some of them are empathetic of others and see everyone with an open mind while others generalize people and can immediately make an assumption about someone from the color of their skin. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, she makes it clear that there are two kinds of people in Maycomb, the majority whom are racist and the select few who are empathic.

Topic sentence…………… something about lack of empathy in today’s society important as book teaches why it is an important skill to have. Often nowadays people tend to ignore the feelings of others, so this novel is an amazing reminder on why empathy is so crucial in life. In the book Atticus enforces this message strongly onto his kids, which also comes across to Harper Lee’s readers. When Bob Ewell is frustrated after the trial and takes his anger out on Atticus, Atticus completely puts himself in Bob’s shoes and states to his son “I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kinds always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.” (Lee 292-293) Even after all the horrible acts, such as spitting in his face (Lee 290) towards Atticus, Atticus is able to remain a positive outlook and understand how Bob must be feeling to justify his actions.

Having empathy for others is one of the most important things to do. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is written from the point of view of a young girl named Scout Finch. Scout‘s dad, Atticus Finch teaches Scout and her brother, Jem many lessons in this book, like coming of age, loss of innocence, and most importantly having empathy and compassion for others. Harper Lee uses Atticus in her novel To Kill A Mockingbird to demonstrate to his kids the importance of having empathy for people.

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. This quote deduces that Atticus

He shows compassion by taking on an impossible case and by acting friendly towards people that show hate to him. After the trial ended and Tom was found guilty, the black community of Maycomb brought food to Atticus ' doorstep and Calpurnia said: "they ‘preciate what you did." (Lee 213) Atticus tried his hardest to save Tom Robinson but the prejudices of the jury overpowered his argument. He showed compassion by putting the best case together that he could, even though the white community were shaming him for helping a person of color. Not only did Atticus show compassion towards friends, he also showed compassion to his enemy and their family. Atticus stepped in the shoes of the Ewells and said that "if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that 's something I 'll gladly take." (Lee 218) This represents compassion because he would gladly protect a victim of abuse with his own life. This shows that Atticus can understand and forgive anyone that has ever done him wrong, and will always look for the best outcome of a bad situation. Atticus is the character that shows the most compassion because he takes the anger of an entire town and the hate of an enemy and turns it into positive outlooks and is able to forgive and forget.

Integrity is the quality of being sincere and having powerful high-minded principles. Integrity is shown in To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, a book that took place in Maycomb County, Alabama where racism was profoundly entrenched. Atticus Finch, a character in the book, is a lawyer who is assigned the case of Tom Robinson, an African-American, who was unjustifiably accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. Arthur “Boo” Radley, his neighbor, is a mysterious person in the beginning of the book but ends up revealing his kindness. His children, Scout and Jem Finch, are following their father’s word of wisdom and learning about integrity throughout their experiences on the way. The amount of integrity can dictate someone’s reputation.

Atticus lives by a code: let your conscience be your guide. That’s why he takes on the case at the heart of the story, the defense of a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. Scout tells Atticus that most people in the town think it’s wrong to defend the accused man. But Atticus explains that “they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions. But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” If he didn’t take the case, Atticus tells Scout, “I could never ask you to mind me again.”

Even though Some people, like Aunt Alexandra thinks Atticus is raising scout wrong because she doesn't like to wear girly clothes. Atticus acts like a teacher to his children, he teaches them wondrous things. Atticus punishes his kids when the deserve it. Jem and Scout are shown to be respectful and treat people the same.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book about a lawyer that has to try and save a man named Tom Robinson,because he has accused of something he didn 't do. To Kill a Mockingbird is an award winning book written by Harper Lee. Tom Robinson is a black man that was accused of raping a woman and a lawyer, named Atticus Finch, has to try and save him. Atticus is a kind and selfless man that likes to help people like Tom Robinson.

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.

As the hero of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch has an unorthodox outlook on racism. He says, “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it— whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” (252). This outlook allows him to approach the obstacles that come with a trial of a black man vs a white woman. Harper Lee, the author of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, worked on revisions for 2.5 years on the novel before it was published in 1960. Many events and characteristics in the novel are real memories experienced by Harper Lee. Scout Finch’s character

Our whole lives growing up we are told to follow the “Golden Rule”. This rule is defined as to treat someone the way you want to be treated. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch a lawyer in a town called Maycomb in Alabama tries his best to be a role model for his two children. In the quiet town of Maycomb Atticus is given the job to defend a black man named Tom Robinson. Atticus wants to teach his kids Jem and Scout life lessons at an early age so they grow up as respectable people. Atticus takes the trial knowing the consequence that him and his family will be harrassed by the town because it is the right thing to do. Atticus finch decides to defend Tom Robinson to be a good role model for his children and prove that the “Golden Rule” is a rule to

Dubose. Atticus explains to them that sometimes in life one has to do things one may not enjoy in order to serve others. Atticus then connects Jem and Scout’s struggle with Mrs. Dubose to himself and the trial. Atticus says to Scout and Jem “ ‘Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience- Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man’ ” (Lee 139). The moment is showing the moral justice behind Atticus's reasoning for defending Tom. Atticus shows how not only is he defending Tom because he knows he is innocent, but he is saying how the action would literally goes against his moral conscience. Atticus shows compassion because he is choosing to see equality in others and how Tom Robinson is no less of a man because of the color of his skin. In the moment, Atticus not only shows compassion towards Tom but also genuine respect.

A mockingbird is a harmless songbird that offers only its beautiful voice. To Kill a Mockingbird is a coming of age novel written by Harper Lee. This story took place in a small rural town called Maycomb County, in the 1930’s where everyone knew each other and all the townspeople were infected by a disease called gossip. This gossip harmed the “mockingbirds”, because all of them were “shot down” physically and metaphorically. Harper Lee implied that there were distinct characteristics that parallel mockingbirds. Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch each represent mockingbirds in their own ways.

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 out there. You understand?” (249)