To Kill A Mockingbird Sympathy Analysis

Author uses Atticus teach these lessons through his wise words. Atticus teaches these lessons to not only the audience, but Jem and Scout too. Some of the main things he teaches his kids about are understanding people, using the mind instead of the body, the cruel reality of stereotypes, and true

Sympathy isn’t always showing pity, you have two choices, you can feel for someone and you can feel with someone. Share how you would feel in the same situation as them, share that common feeling or share an understanding. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, sympathy is portrayed by the author through the characters. No matter racial tensions, class, or morals, the main characters make an impact by doing so with one another. Sympathy is taught by Atticus to Jem and Scout throughout the novel. Sympathy is apparent in Jem with Mrs. Dubose, a lady perceived newly as a hero by ending a life changing addiction before she died. Finally, sympathy is apparent is Scout through Boo Radley, the effect greatly changing her views on not to judge someone based on what they were told by someone else, or in other words: not to judge a book by it’s cover. Throughout the topic discussed in the 1930’s it seems as though there was more time to sympathize with someone. Sympathy was not an act of carrying that is only expressed in such time of need and sorrow like the great depression, however today we lack the courtesy for others to sympathize with them. Atticus tells scout, “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)” In order to sympathize with

Firstly, Atticus shows empathy throughout the whole story to everyone. Atticus told scout you have to stand in someone's shoes to understand them, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb in their skin, and walk around in it,” said Atticus (39). Atticus gives the advice to scout, so Scout can show more empathy to everyone, and so she can try to understand what a person is going through in their life, and Atticus taught her how to do that. It took courage and empathy for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson. It was not normal for a person in the 1930’s to try to defend an African American, much less care about him and the case, that is real empathy. Atticus really tried his hardest to defend him, and prove Tom’s innocence, but the jury still had the prejudice of racism against Tom. Atticus is the same person everywhere, on the streets, and at home. He treats everyone one with great respect, and shows empathy for everyone, even if

“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.

In conclusion, To Kill A Mockingbird has many examples of how characters show empathy to other characters. In this novel, one of the main themes or lessons Lee tries to teach the reader is empathy for others. To judge a person, you must walk in his “shoes” or “skin”. Throughout the novel, Atticus, Jem and Scout Finch mature and start showing empathy more and more and to more and more people. If it weren’t for empathy, no one would have defended Tom Robinson. A wise person told me many of our lawyers today as kids they decided to be lawyers because of Atticus Finch’s heroic

In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch says, “...You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” This quote applies many times in the book where the narrator, six year old Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, tells us the story of her father, Atticus Finch, who tries to prove the innocence of Tom Robinson, a black man charged with rape of a young girl in the town. Though Atticus tries his best to convince the jury that Robinson is innocent, he is still convicted of the crime. The story shows the root of humanity including kindness, cruelty, innocence, and more to the townspeople, including the young, like Scout and her older brother, Jem. Throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how prejudice

Tom Robinson is another mockingbird figure. He was a genuinely caring person who is destroyed by his willingness to help Mayella Ewell. Just like a mockingbird, Robinson never hurt anyone. Yet, he was also persecuted by society for his kindness and his race. Tom Robinson was killed because of his kindness and the color of his skin; “ a harmless songbird that was shot down by a senseless hunter.” Lee uses the character of Tom as a mockingbird figure to express the innocence of the mockingbird and exhibit the narrow-mindedness and biased opinions of the towns folk.

Philosopher Albert Schweitzer explains, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and show compassion and the will to help others”(BrainyQoute.com) In order to follow the purpose of life you have to teach the purpose of life. Compassion is meant to be shared and spread throughout the whole world. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Atticus takes this moral upon himself, and teaches Jem and Scout about compassion in Maycomb. Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee deeply develops her theme that compassion is understanding someone else’s perspective and following your own belief even if it contradicts the way of society.

As Stephen King once said, “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” In the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, Jean Louise Finch, a young girl who also goes by Scout, experiences many things such as racism, friends, and family. Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who is sacrificing his reputation to defend a black man, Tom Robinson. Scout and her friends take it upon themselves to uncover the mystery of Boo Radley. In this book the mockingbirds represent innocence. Many characters take on the role of the “mockingbird". Exploring Lee’s title, to kill a mockingbird is to kill innocence.

Lee implies that people learn lessons through life experiences that school can ever teach. Throughout this novel, Atticus taught his kids many lessons that was hard for them to hear at times, but it later on helped them in the story. Or it helped them grow up and mature. On page 40 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was explaining to Scout that Miss.Caroline was new and didn’t know anyone, and she especially didn’t know the Cunningham’s story, Atticus states, “Atticus said… but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we’d have seen it was an honest mistake on her part” (40). This quote by Atticus is meant to explain to Scout that Miss. Caroline just made an honest human mistake. He tried to get Scout to realize that if he put herself in Miss.Caroline’s shoes then she might better understand the confusion. Obviously you can’t really be in her shoes, but he said it figuratively to show her why it was important to give her another chance, or at least try to be nice and listen. Atticus taught this to Scout at home later on that night. At her school after that she tried to just get by in her class. Lee also shows mainly throughout that the school system doesn’t help when it comes to teaching children life lessons. As shown in the earlier quote Atticus, had told Scout to jump in Walter’s shoes, and walk around in it. This other quote shows how Scout actually takes into consideration of Atticus’ words, and chooses to not bother Jem because she tried to imagine what it had

"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (pg. 119.) Miss Maudie spoke the previous quote with deep thought going into each and every word. She wasn't just trying to teach Scout a lesson, but she wanted there to be a powerful meaning behind it. Miss Maudie's main purpose was to stress that you shouldn't kill something that is doing no harm. Everyday "mockingbirds" are killed, broke down, and mistreated by society.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view— until you climb in his skin and walk around in it,” says Atticus Finch. This iconic quote from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird highlights the compassion for others that shows up several times in the story. Empathy is a prevalent theme in To Kill a Mockingbird and is displayed by several characters. Atticus Finch is one of the most compassionate characters. He sets an example for his kids, who also learn to empathize. Several other characters besides the Finch family show compassion for each other. The title of the novel itself symbolizes empathy for the innocent and accentuates the role of compassion in this novel.

Human interaction is important in today's society. It allows each of the species to communicate and share what they feel. But, wny for people struggle with the concept of empathy? To Kill A Mockingbird is a great example of the struggles of empathy. People struggle with empathy because they have different experiences. Characters who show this are Scout, Mayella, and Aunt Alexandra.

One of the main demonstrations of compassion, is towards Helen Robinson after the death of Tom Robinson. Atticus makes the choice to bring Calpurnia and tell Helen about the death. He could have decided to hire someone different to bring the sorrowful news, but his compassion towards the Robinson’s was too great to not be there in person to tell her. As well as this, Atticus shows compassion towards Tom Robinson simply by the sadness he exhibits after the case was lost. Any other lawyer in Maycomb would be grateful that the white man prevailed once more in the courthouse, but Atticus was different, as he cared for Tom and his situation deeply. Atticus was not obliged to feel compassion for Tom, but his conscience and heart chose to take note of the difficult situation and mourn after his fate was decided. When Atticus returns from the courthouse, he walks into the house and states, “‘I’m going to bed,’ he said. ‘If I don’t wake up in the morning, don’t call me’” (284). Atticus felt no need to wake up in the morning, as the loss of the case also declared the loss of someone who had become a friend. One of the other examples of Atticus’s compassion, is towards Boo Radley. When he discovers that the children have essentially been mocking the Radley family through the, “Boo Radley game,” Atticus makes it clear he no longer wants them to participate in such

The story, in the eyes of two innocent children Scout and her brother Jem, of the discrimination and hypocrisy throughout the town. Maycomb County, Alabama, faces an African American’s injustice while the children learn valuable lessons from their father, Atticus and their housemaid Calpurnia, during the Great Depression. All the while, we are learning from it. To Kill a Mockingbird teaches us the lessons of morale, justice and equality.