Themes Of Empathy In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'

Children are known for stretching the truth in stories and believing everything they here from someone that is older than them. That is some reasons why a child narrator can be an advantage for readers to understand the story better and the different perspective in situations. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout a 6 year old girl shares her perspective on how she sees things at such a young age in Maycomb Alabama with friends like Dill and her brother Jem. Scout deals with the affect of a court case on her family and learns more about her scary neighbor Boo Radley. In the book Scout shows the advantages of being a child narrator by sharing experiences with readers, learning how to say her thoughts, and being nonjudgmental throughout the book.

This made the town talk and they made up stories about why he never came out. Scout heard these stories but her friendliness persisted her on finding out what he was really like. “Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, her older brother, Jem, and their friend, Dill- spend most of their summer holidays trying to learn more about their reclusive neighbor Arthur “Boo” Radley…” (Flynt). At the end of the novel Boo reveals himself by saving Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell, who was going after them in the middle of the night. Scout then realizes that he was a nice man and all the things said about him were not true.

He never had many experiences outside of the house, so he acts as if he was still the child he was before he stayed in that house for so long. Boo Radley is also considered a Mockingbird, the symbol of innocence in the book. Jem conveys the theme of love for his sister Scout when he takes his birthday money to buy her a twirling baton (even though his caring gift didn’t last long). “Jem thought he had enough to buy a miniature steam engine for himself and a twirling baton for me” (Lee 116). While he does end up snapping it in half during his rage towards Mrs. Dubose, it is clear that Jem had loving intentions towards Scout.

Scout puts herself in Boo Radley’s shoes when Jem tells Scout that he finally realized why Boo Radley might have stayed in his house for so long. She also puts herself in his shoes when Boo Radley wants to see Jem, but does notknow how to comfort him so she says he can pet him. Another time Scout puts herself in Boo Radley’s shoes was at the very end when she was standing on the Radley porch and going back through her memories through Boo’s perspective. “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.

One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Justine standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (Lee 279). Scout now sees the world the world through Boo Radley’s shoes, even though she might be taking it too literally, and find compassion for things that Boo Radley did long

It was Atticus’s reasoning, Calpurnia’s kindness, and the black community’s love that allowed the children to stand with them. The third reason that Atticus should not have defended Tom Robinson is because their Aunt, Uncle, and cousin show disgust. When Atticus and his family go visit some of their immediate relatives, the tension is evident. Scout's Aunt and Uncle don't agree with Atticus’s decision and their disgust is clearly shown. Their disgust even rubs off on their only child, Francis, who acts like an annoying fly that you can't swat away(simile), taunts Scout with cruel words.

Role models are the epitome of what one strives to be, learn from, or simply to be. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee distinguishes Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Atticus as role models for Scout to help guide and portray her coming of age in order to further prove the overall themes of the novel such as coming of age and prejudice. Scout Finch’s knowledge of Maycomb County and the things surrounding her is minimal until she receives guidance from her family, friends, and neighbors. Also, along with these two main themes Scout’s character is changed because of her role models who assist her throughout the novel. The role models of Calpurnia, Miss Maudie, and Atticus teach her lessons on her education, racism, and respect.

Another time when Scout felt empathy was when her and Jem went to Mrs. Dubose’s house to read to her. “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

Along with his loving wife, Mrs.White and their son Herbert, the family bonded well and at first did not seem to be distant from each other. The story was full of life lessons that are useful in today’s world, even though it was published in the 19th century. Jacobs uses foreshadowing throughout “The Monkey’s Paw” to prove that ignorance can cause people to make poor decisions; his use of suspenseful tone and dark mood show that those decisions will lead to bad consequences controlled by fate. The constant state of ignorance with the White’s family created poor decisions in which the use of foreshadowing subtly hinted. In the beginning of the story, Sergeant-Major Morris, firmly told the White’s family about the danger of the monkey’s paw.

As quoted by Lee, “He almost whispered it, in the voice of a child that is afraid of the dark” (278). At this point in the novel, Arthur saved the children from an attack orchestrated by Bob Ewell. It is at this moment that Scout understands that “Boo” Radley is not a monster, but a normal human being that has been a victim of social isolation and

Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming of how you appear to someone else? In this passage from chapter 31 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the literary elements of motif, diction, and setting develops the theme that changing perspectives or “walking in someone else’s shoes” brings understanding as it did for Scout as she thought of Boo Radley’s point of view. This passage comes as the aftermath of a fatal situation. Harper Lee uses the mindset of a young girl, Scout, standing on her strange neighbor’s porch to demonstrate this “coming of age” lesson. The author establishes “coming of age” to be the learning and maturing as one progresses through life no matter his or her age.

Also, Scout demonstrates compassion for Boo Radley who is an outcast of society because of rumors spread about him. Atticus expresses compassion in To Kill a Mockingbird by acknowledging that Mrs. Dubose cannot control her actions even though she is very mean to his children. After Atticus finds out what Jem has done to her camellias, he shows compassion towards Mrs Dubose by talking to Jem about how what he did “to an old lady was inexcusable” (128). Mrs. Dubose struggled to control her morphine addiction before she passed away, causing her to act mean and aggressive towards Atticus and his children. Atticus wants his children to understand that some people cannot control their actions even though the reason is not apanent.