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Teaching Compassion in a World Were Compassion Is Lost

Decent Essays

According to Arthur Schopenhauer “compassion is the basis of all morality.” This means that “principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior” (Google dictionary, morality) are developed by the “sympathetic pity and concern for the suffering or misfortune of others.” (Google dictionary, compassion) In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird we generally see this through the character Atticus Finch. Atticus demonstrates this when he pardons Bob Ewell’s threats toward the Finch family, accepts the Tom Robinson case, though it is headed for failure and lastly Atticus examples compassion when he acts neighborly to Mrs. Dubose despite her insults towards him. As you will see, morally correct decisions come not from law or society, but from within.
Bob Ewell, a man who is offensive, ignorant and lazy poses threats on Atticus Finch, an intellectual, wise, empathetic man and his family. The threats are dangerous and serious, however, no matter what they are or how scared his children grow nothing seems to faze him. Atticus is trying to teach his children to put themselves in other people’s situations before coming to harsh conclusions:
“‘Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. 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 kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly

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