...To Kill A Mockingbird Essay What is Empathy? Empathy is the ability to step into another person’s shoes and understand what they did, or why they choose to do something. Not everybody can have empathy, only people who are willing to open their minds to different opinions and see what they might not have seen before. While showing empathy you can change a person's life for the better. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee reveals that showing empathy can give hope to someone in despair. Empathy can simply mean making somebody’s day or it can have a deeper meaning like trying to save somebody's life. In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird, there are a lot of examples of empathy simply just making somebody’s day. For example, “Jem suddenly grinned at him. ‘Come on home to dinner with us, Walter,’ he said. ‘We’d be glad to have you’” (Lee 23). Here, Jem knows that Walter doesn’t get the three meals a day. So Jem, being the way he was brought up by Atticus, politely asks Walter if he would like to enjoy a meal with the Finches. Another example of empathy making somebody’s day would be when Dolphus...
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...According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the definition of empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings of another without having the experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner. Empathy is conducted internally; it is a mindset. When empathy is combined with action, the power of our convictions can be used to effect change around us. Atticus Finch, in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, does this in excess. Atticus has so much empathy for others that it actually clouds his judgement. Excessive empathy leads Atticus to make excuses for other’s behaviors, and to justify their wrongdoings. Atticus also lacks confidence to stand up for what and who...
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...The benefit of reading is to learn from the character in the book.This is shown in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, “Reading and literature makes us smarter and nicer” by Annie Murphy Paul and Shami Sivasubramanian 2016 article, “Study Finds Reading Fiction Develops Empathy”. Harper Lee teaches us about prejudice, family and fear, through the eyes of the characters in the book. Firstly Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird takes readers to a land of prejudice known as 1930’s Alabama. This teaches us how bad prejudice was back then and how much it has improved. “He despises Negroes, wont have one near him” is an example of prejudice. Atticus tells us that “there’s something in our world that make men lose their heads, they couldn’t be fair...
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...In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus and Tom Robinson show empathy. Empathy is when a person himself/herself into someone's shoes or in another term, looking at the other person's perspective. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus shows empathy in Bob Ewell. At one point in chapter 23, Scout and Jem received the news that Bob Ewell spitted on Atticus's Face and also threatened him. Later when Atticus comes home, Scout asked Atticus why he didn’t do anything to Bob Ewell even though he spitted in his face, he responded with a quote, "So if spitting in my face and 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 household of children out there" ( Lee, 218 ). This Shows that...
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...To Kill a Mockingbird Essay The story To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb Alabama in the 1930’s. The Great Depression was in effect so not a lot of people had any money. However, this was not the only thing they had to worry about. There was a lot of Racism, class prejudice, and sexism that all lead up to not only the kids, but also adults facing the destruction of innocence. One example, is the mockingbird. This represented innocence because Atticus stated it was a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds never do anything but sing beautiful music for us to listen to. They are peaceful animals that don’t hurt you. Innocence was taken away from Tom Robinson. He was accused for raping a white girl Mayella because he was black. Tom was innocent until they made him guilty. He tried to help her but it backfired. She told him to come inside and tried to have sex with him but her dad came in and Mayella blamed Tom. This was taken to trial and Tom was announced guilty because of destruction of innocence. Another example, is Boo Radley. Just like Tom the town made him seem like the bad guy from rumors and town gossip. Boo was locked inside his house most of his life and everyone thought he was scary and shouldn’t trust him. In reality he...
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...and Jem from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, and Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsb by Scott Fitzgerald. Each of these characters encounters different processes of coming of age. When these characters process of maturation and coming of age are compared, the most relevant coming of age best exhibited by Holden from The Catcher in the Rye, following with Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird and Mr. Gatsby from The Great Gatsby; however, differences in coming of age are apparent in the different time periods of each novel setting, practicality, and present social issues. Holden Caulfield, the main character in The Catcher in the...
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...To Kill A Mockingbird Final Essay Today in society, many people empathize so they can further understand another's point of view. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows how empathy is the key to understanding somebody. Atticus really supports the theme of empathy. He wants Jem and Scout to live by empathizing for other people. Atticus and Scout use empathy to understand another character's point of view. Empathy is more than just saying sorry, it actually helps someone feel what another is feeling. Atticus really supports this throughout the novel. This is shown through the quote on page 39.“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk...
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...Many characters in the novel develop and mature in a unique ways through the novel. Boo Radley who never communicated with other people, Aunt Alexandra who is prejudice to other race and social class, and scout who is young and is not aware of life challenge. As the novel progress the character view of the world changes. Through this essay many question will be answered and many quotes will be presented to support my essay. The primary questions will be “what caused them to grow and mature” and “building block of growth and maturity in to kill a mockingbird”. The essay will explain the journey of the characters in to kill a mockingbird and how they grew and matured. I Everyone in society grows up and develop into a better persons or worse it’s...
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...Why is it that society is self centered? People always accumulate themselves as the right individual during conflict. They never consume the information being presented in front of them. This is also the main reason why racism is highly prevalent within society. The novel, ¨To Kill a Mockingbird,¨ that was well written by the author, ¨Harper Lee,¨ accurately demonstrated how people easily lose their sense of empathy and become very prejudice. Within Tkam, empathy is greatly influence through the characters Atticus, Scout, and Dolphus Raymond by including the primary issue of racism and how it affected them within their home town, Maycomb County. First and foremost, In the novel, ¨To Kill a Mockingbird,¨ empathy is first presented by the character,...
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...Empathy is more than just a characteristic of one's personality; it's a way of life. It's a way of viewing the world through other people’s eyes, and being able to truly understand their struggles and hardships. Although, one must go through a very complex and dramatic process in order to obtain this attitude. Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird describes this process. As Daniel Goleman once said, "if you're emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self– awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far." This quote adequately describes this trait. Empathy, although sometimes difficult...
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...How symbolism can help you better understand To Kill a Mockingbird In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee uses symbolism to reveal an overall theme of human dignity. Maycomb County is a typical sleepy southern town that is blinded by the disease of racism. An innocent black man becomes a victim of the disease when he is accused of rapeing a white woman. Firstly the symbols Jem’s pants and the rolly-polly show the important theme of maturation. Furthermore the symbols Tim Johnson and the snowman highlight a theme of destroying racism. Lastly one-shot Finch and the perfect white waxy camellia symbolize true courage. Harper Lee uses Jem’s pants and the rolly-polly as symbols to convey a theme of maturation. Jem and Scout where in the Radley’s backyard trying to get a look at Boo Radley when Jem see’s a shadow the children immediately flee form the house. As the children were running through the collards as they hear the roar of a shotgun. As Jem and Scout are fleeing the scene Jem’s pants gets caught in the fence and he has to leave it in their backyard if he wants to survive. Later that night he says how he needs to go back and retrieve his pants not for him but for Atticus, “‘Atticus ain’t never whipped me ever since I can remember, and I wanta keep it that way.’” (Lee 75). He goes back to get his pants to keep his relation shit with Atticus. There is a evident theme maturation in Jem at this point, from when he thought turtles could not feel, too now when he is showing...
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...In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a character that shows true courage during the trial is Atticus Finch, lawyer and loving father to Jem and Scout. True courage is being able to defend and fight for something despite the circumstances.Numerous times Atticus shows courage in the story which all relates to the theme, having to be faced with the harsh reality of the world which ruins your innocence. Atticus Finch stays strong and practical during the trial, defending Tom Robinson with his life. Atticus’s effort during the trial shows his courage because, despite it being tricky to get the judge and people of the racist South to side with Tom Robinson, compared to Mayella, who claims to be the victim. Atticus does not give up and continues to fight for Tom Robinson’s justice. Atticus shows courage through logical...
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...Quote: “The boy stood up, he was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick.” (Lee 29) Analysis: This quote shows that not all the kids in Maycomb have the best hygiene. This could be due to not having the money for it. Which ties back to the fact that a good majority of people in Maycomb live in poverty. This shows the reader that both Maycomb and the civilians living in it that it probably isn’t the cleanest environment. This help the reader be able to connect to the characters and understand where they are coming from and why they might act the way that they do. Lee uses diction in is choice of filthiest and rusty. Lee also uses hyperbole in that same text. Quote:“It’s against the law alright… but when a man spends his relief checks on green whiskey his children have a way of crying from hunger pains.” (Lee 34)...
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...Are You Worthy Of Compassion? In Harper Lee´s To Kill A Mockingbird, there are many instances of compassion and evil. Scout has compassion for Mayella Ewell even though her life is filled with evil things. Atticus is benevolent to Mrs. Dubose, even when she talks about him, he sends his children over to help with her addiction. Atticus also defends Tom Robinson with the knowledge that they will lose the case. We all deserve compassion in our lives, even if it does not seem like it. At the trial, Scout says, “It came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world,” (Lee 191). Scout felt compassion for Mayella because for her to feel like she was loved, she had to try and seduce a black man into her home. It is wrong to tempt people to do things, but back then it was intolerable for a white woman to entice a black man, or vice versa. It was not right for Mayella to try and coax Tom, but that does not mean...
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...versus Ethics ......................................................................................................................... 5 Responsibility and Culpability ............................................................................................................. 6 Atonement .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Law and Legality .................................................................................................................................... 10 Race and Ethnicity................................................................................................................................. 11 To Kill a Mockingbird...
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