Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird

Scout does not like all of the prejudices in the town, and world, all shows a lot of empathy for how young she is in this quote, “I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks,” (304) Atticus, Scout, and minor characters show the importance of empathy. Atticus always thinks about how people feel, scout shows empathy throughout the novel, especially at the end, and some minor characters show some empathy. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee demonstrates the importance of empathy.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (p.30) The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee includes a plethora of essential themes that make one think deeply. The story takes place in the 1930’s when segregation tensions were high. The narrative is told through the eyes of a young girl, Jean Louise (Scout) Finch. Scout’s father, Atticus is a lawyer fighting a case for an African American man named Tom Robinson. Throughout the novel, both Scout and her older brother Jeremy (Jem) Finch learn many life lessons that are crucial for all children to learn about. One fundamental lesson learned by the children, is the lesson of having empathy.

Empathy is the ability to share emotions and feelings with others. This skill requires people to look at things from another person’s point of view. Harper Lee implies in To Kill A Mockingbird that having the ability to feel empathy for others not only benefits others, but also can lead to personal gains in the long run. Empathy is demonstrated through the relationship of the characters of Scout with Walter Cunningham, Atticus with Tom Robinson and the children, and finally, Jem Finch with Mrs. Dubose.

Empathy can be defined as making a connection to someone during a situation. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, empathy is a main part in some of the characters’ lives. Without empathy, the novel would lack many components that make the main characters, Jem and Scout, who they are.

There are many different social classes in “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The factors that separate people into these social classes are their skin color and their occupation.

Situations in one’s life change change his morals and values. Jem and Scout, main characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, learn new principles of life throughout an important court case their father takes on. To Kill A Mockingbird has many themes that relate to the real, modern world. Empathy, courage, morals, bettering oneself, and personal integrity each are a life lesson in the novel, and can be related to the world today.

An educated man and a respected lawyer, Atticus Finch uses his words and intellect to advocate acceptance. He clearly discusses the importance of acceptance throughout daily life to his children as well as "the white jury" during the court case. Atticus uses his moral voice to stand up for a coloured man; Tom Robinson, although people such as Bob Ewell and the Cunninghams consistently oppose his decision in defending a "nigger". "There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing". By challenging the courtroom about seeing everyone is equal, he allows the jury as well as the audience to realise that the social placement nor the race of an individual does not determine their actions, but their nature as a human. In my visual representation I have used a class system triangle to separate the different classes. The size of each sector represent how much the certain social class is accepted. For example, the Finches as well respected therefore they hold abundance of space whereas the negroes are on the top with no space; portraying they are not as accepted in society. Throughout the novel Atticus attempts to persuade and teach the life altering lesson of acceptance towards the Maycomb society. That everyone is equal and their is no difference between their integrity and a negroes; which is opposed in my visual

In the Story there are many different "social classes" according to the characters. One evening Scout petitions Atticus to not make her go to school the next day. Atticus explained to Scout that she must go because it is the law. Scout complains that Burris Ewell does not have to go to school. This is when Atticus explains that Scout and Burris Ewell are not in the same social class. "You, Miss Scout Finch, are of the common folk. You must obey the law. He said that the Ewells were members of an exclusive society made up of Ewell 's."

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is about two children, Jem and Scout, and their relationships with their father, Atticus. The children raise themselves growing up, many people would say they were irresponsible, but they are both appear to be intelligent individuals. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird the novel demonstrates a rigid class structure and social stratification in the County of Maycomb. People should not be judged by their social class, they should be judged on their personality.

There are many different social classes in “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The factors that separate people into these social classes are their skin color and their occupation. For example, Atticus, Scout, and Jem are part of the highest social class. They are part of this social class because Atticus is a lawyer, which makes him a highly respected person in the community. He is also white, which, at that time was a very important factor that chose who belonged in what social class. Scout and Jem are his children and therefore are also part of this social class.

1) Atticus is an empathetic person who tries to make sure people are treated equally, and in the case of his children, that people should grow up and make a positive difference. Atticus shows his empathy by telling Scout to try to understand what Miss Caroline is going through. Harper Lee is trying to show that with empathy, everyone benefits, and there would be less hate and injustice. Atticus says, “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). Atticus is telling Scout to look at the world through Miss Caroline’s eyes, to see why Miss Caroline reacts the way that she does. Atticus believes that if Scout can see how scared Miss Caroline is, with teaching a new school in a new way, then Scout can understand what makes Miss Caroline act the way that she does. When Scout asks Atticus why he is angering the town by defending Tom Robinson, he says that he must, or else he would no longer be reputable. Atticus says, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101) Atticus leads by example, and that if he did not hold himself to the same standard that he wants Scout and Jem to be at, then he is no better than the rest of the town. He knows that he is going to lose, but wants to show his children that it is important to do the right thing no matter the consequences or result, and

“‘...There’s four kinds of folks in the world. There’s the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there’s the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and the Negroes,’” (Lee 302). In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem argues for the act that the poorer people in town were different because of how much money they had. Many people agreed and held a predetermined idea that people were different because of their social class. Class issues such as social prejudice occur in both To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. A person’s social class can largely affect how they are treated in society and what they can or cannot do.

Consequences: Lack of Empathy in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” You never truly understand someone until you see thing from their point of view. Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” contains many opportunities for its readers to observe the negative impacts of being selfish and lacking empathy. Mr. Radley lacks empathy for his son, Arthur “Boo” Radley, and locks him in the house for many years, which results in Arthur having no social skills. Additionally, Bob Ewell blaming Tom Robinson for the damage he had done makes it clear that Bob has little empathy for Tom. Getting Tom in trouble with the law makes him be viewed as a criminal, which can even be linked to Robinson's death.

One of the first major examples of how social class affects a society is how Atticus shares how the Ewells are very different in their society. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird Scout was talking about what Atticus said about the Ewells. Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day’s work in his recollection” (40). Here Atticus is talking about how the Ewells aren’t structured at all and have no work ethic. Atticus also said “they are people, but

In the beginning, while the main character Scout Finch is going to class with her new teacher Miss Caroline whom is new to town and doesn’t know very much about the people, social class is a very prominent theme. First off, while Scout was going to school she met a boy from the Cunningham tribe. The Cunningham tribe was very poor and worked off the land for all that they had. As Scout