Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, a severe lack of empathy promoted immense inequality between races. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout Finch struggles to understand the vast concepts of racism and empathy in a town that is plagued with discrimination. The innocent girl is initially challenged by interpreting these two major notions, however, numerous events provoke her to gain a perception of them. Due to Scout’s newfound understanding of what the victims of racism endure, she develops a greater sense of empathy towards them. Scout’s immaturity prevents her from formulating personal opinions regarding racism and in accordance, she is influenced by the prejudices prevalent in the community surrounding her. Initially, …show more content…
Scout is not aware of the extreme racism evident in Maycomb, however, she notices segregation between races. As a result, Scout is not able to form her own opinions about racism and she is accordingly impacted by the bigotry in her community, which is demonstrated by her occasional racist actions. When Scout and Jem are building a snowman, it becomes brown due to the addition of dirt and she therefore calls it a “nigger snowman” (89). She mentions this obviously, without any concern toward the dark connotation of the word. Considering that children usually repeat what their elders say, a majority of the adults surrounding Scout must use the offensive term with constancy. Additionally, Scout rejecting the black snowman and wanting a white snowman in its place elucidates that she has a little sense of superiority towards the black community. The citizens of Maycomb have instilled all of these negative habits into Scout, however, Atticus attempts to counterbalance this through teaching her the value of empathy. He believes that Scout needs to learn how to consider other people’s perspectives as it will allow for her to get along with everyone better, including the black community. Because of Scout experiencing segregation herself, she develops a stronger sense of empathy towards the victims of racism and understands their pain, however, she still cannot grasp the major impacts generated through discrimination.
Scout’s comprehension of racism is radically improved when Lula, a woman from First Purchase Church, confronts Calpurnia for bringing Jem and Scout to the church. The children feel segregated and believe they are unwanted due to Lula’s actions, however, the rest of the congregation stands behind them. The churchgoers are empathetic to what Jem and Scout are experiencing, in accordance with them coping with segregation daily, and they therefore eliminate the source. Through Scout experiencing racism firsthand, she realizes how diminishing it is and gains more empathy towards the black community by reason that she can now discern the disdain they undergo. Nevertheless, Scout is not fully sensitive to all of the issues that the black community deals with, which is proven when she asks Calpurnia why she talks differently around black people: “‘Why do you nigger-talk to the- to your folks when you know it’s not right?’” (167). Scout struggles to understand that speaking in two different mannerisms is Calpurnia’s way of fitting into both of the distinct cultures created by segregation. Scout is afforded the luxury of only being exposed to one culture and this makes it difficult for her to empathize with Calpurnia’s position or even grasp
it. Tom Robinson’s trial illustrates the development Scout’s empathetic nature, while it also offers her important insight into racism. Atticus is placed in a difficult position when he is assigned to defend Tom Robinson since it might provoke animosity between the town citizens and himself. In the end, Atticus decides to accept the case by reason that he believes cheating a black man is one of the worst offenses possible. Scout takes notice of Atticus’s empathy towards Tom Robinson and, in turn, her own sense of empathy continues to evolve. Hence, when she “toy[s] with the idea of asking everyone… to concentrate on setting Tom Robinson free”, it is exemplified that Scout is empathetic towards the position he is in and wants him to return to home (281). Furthermore, Scout comprehends that there was an overtone of unfairness to Tom Robinson’s trial but she cannot immediately recognize what it is. She continues to believe in the goodness of humanity and for this reason, she cannot fathom why Tom Robinson was unfairly convicted. However, through listening to the conversations between Atticus and Jem, Scout realizes that accusation resulted from the jury’s prejudice towards the black community and their incapability of surpassing it. Due to this recognition, Scout comprehends that it is necessary to be empathetic towards the black community as racism induces unfair decisions to be made, which might prove costly to a person’s life. Scout has not viewed the full extent of racial discrimination by the end of the novel and therefore she will become more empathetic to the black community as she continues to understand their hardships. In the beginning of the novel, Scout does not experience a major act of racism, so she struggles to comprehend why she needs to empathize with the black community. However, the unfair results of Tom Robinson’s trial prompt her realize that the black population is oppressed and that their lives are drastically impacted by the unfair treatment they are subjected to. When Scout faces other situations where racism is evident, she will understand more aspects of it, which will strengthen her sense of empathy.
This highlight's how prevalent and ordinary racist discrimination was. The way Scout felt it was wrong to be talking to Mr Raymond also indicates how he was omitted from the community. Racial prejudice divides the town and allows people to be excluded and discriminated against. When Miss Maudie says, "You are too young to understand it." she is discriminating against Scout's age. The use of this cliché illustrates how common it was for adults to not explain things to children because they assumed they would not understand. It also displays how age discrimination was something that happened regularly. Scout often has different views on topics and if she was included in more conversations people within the community could see things from a different vantage point. In this way To Kill A Mockingbird outlines how gender, age and racial prejudice impacts individuals and communities in a damaging
There are some people in this world that can truly understand, or try to understand people and their feelings. They can relate to them on some sort of level. Then there's is plenty of people in this world who have no empathy at all. They don’t feel for people or even try to understand. That's exactly why everyone should read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The book is about a little girl named Scout and her older brother Jem, who is going through some changes as they grow older in the racist south where their father, a lawyer has a case about a black man raping a white woman. Over the course of the book, both characters grow in great measures. Their father is always teaching them in little ways what’s right/wrong, and what’s good/bad.
The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama in the 1930s, and concerns itself primarily with the interrelated themes of prejudice and empathy. These themes are explored as the story follows Scout Finch as she learns lessons in empathy, ultimately rejecting prejudice. While all characters in Lee’s novel learn from their experiences, not all are able to grow in the same manner as Scout. The idea of a positive role model, typified by the character of Atticus Finch, and the ramifications of its absence, is a concept that Lee places much emphasis on. The isolated setting is also pivotal in the development of characters. Lee uses the contrast between characters that learn lessons in empathy and compassion, and characters that cling to the ideals of a small town, to explore factors that nurture or diminish prejudice.
Empathy is one of the greatest powers that a human being can ever hope to achieve; one person being able to understand the inner-workings of another is something truly amazing. However, empathy isn’t something that one is always naturally able to accomplish; in fact, it usually takes a long time for one to develop any empathy at all. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader follows Scout Finch as she experiences her youth in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. In this story, we experience her empathy for others as it increases or decreases. Though there are many examples of these alterations in Scout’s relationships, there is one that is both prominent and more complex than a few others; her relationship with her aunt, Alexandra. There are three specific instances in which we can track the progression of Scout’s empathy towards her aunt; meeting Aunt Alexandra, Scout wanting to invite Walter Cunningham over, and the assault by Bob Ewell of Scout and Jem.
Empathy and Social Change in To Kill a Mockingbird, Milk, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Empathy: “The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner” (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary). When we think of social change, several of the themes in the literature we have discussed are based upon this concept of empathy. In To Kill a Mockingbird, there’s the repetition of the idea that you should stand in someone’s shoes before judging them. In Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, we see a liberal family who finds it difficult to accept interracial marriage when having to personally deal with the issue. In Milk, Harvey discusses how the gay movement has a better chance if more people come out, where if each person knows at least one “homosexual” there’s a better chance of the movement gaining public approval. For social change to occur, one needs to be aware of and sensitive to the issues at hand, and conscious of how everyone’s lives are differently affected in one way or another. Empathy is an important vehicle for creating lasting social change.
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, empathy is demonstrated throughout the novel. Empathy can be defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Atticus tries to explain to Jem and Scout about what he experiences and the things that are happening in Maycomb County. Several characters learn empathy and understand how they feel about certain things and understand the experiences of others. This plays a major role in the novel.
Little by little Jem, Scout, and Dill get exposed to the real world; changing their perspective and their attitude towards people and subjects. This event focuses on Scout and Jem, Atticus is away and Calpurnia decides to take them to her church. While they are at the church Jem and Scout notice, Calpurnia talks a different way to negros than to whites. “‘Cal,’ I asked, “why do you talk niggertalk to the—to your folks when you know it’s not right?” ‘Well, in the first place I’m black—’ ‘That doesn’t mean you hafta talk that way when you know better,’ said Jem. Calpurnia tilted her hat and scratched her head, then pressed her hat down carefully over her ears. ‘It’s right hard to say,’ she said. ‘Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks’ talk at home it’d be out of place, wouldn’t it? Now what if I talked white-folks’ talk at church, and with my neighbors? They’d think I was puttin‘ on airs to beat Moses.’ ‘But Cal, you know better,’ I said. ‘It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike—in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin‘ more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin‘ right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.’” (167) Calpurnia
Have American’s lost the ability to show empathy? Although a novice reader may struggle to see how a book written over 50 years ago bears any connection to our modern world, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird could not be any more relevant. The citizens of fictional Maycomb County acknowledge their flawed legal system and unfair social castes as unfortunate truths of life, of which all you can do is accept it as fact. The sole exception is lawyer Atticus Finch, who is in charge of defending the accused in court. After seeing all too many men receive a sentence simply because of the color of their skin, Atticus embarks on a quest to teach Jem and Scout, his children, that prejudice can be fought. By understanding and exposing ourselves to different people, we can free ourselves from prejudice.
In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the story is told by a young girl called Jean-Louise Finch but also known as Scout aged five at the start of the book almost turning six who in the book is quite unique as she could read at the age of six and understand her fathers profession as a lawyer. The story is about Scout growing up in the southern state of Alabama in a small town called Maycomb with her brother Jem and her father called Atticus who is the lawyer. The main theme of the book is about Atticus defending a black man called Tom Robinson and he is accused of raping a white girl called Mayella Ewell and how it affects her, in the book she learns about racism and prejudice and the struggle of black men in life and she also learns about the ways of life and family traditions. The book is set in the late 1930’s so racial discrimination is at its peak in the southern states of America.
Scout learns that by resisting prejudice, we often help others. For example, Scout sees Atticus defend Tom Robinson, despite the white people of the town’s disapproval. By defending Tom, Atticus paves a small pathway in Maycomb for black people to follow to attempt to raise their social status.
Similar to Atticus, Calpurnia takes a stand against racism and believes everyone is equal. Due to Atticus’ and Calpurnia’s morals toward racism, Jem and Scout are heavily influenced by their views, and will most likely take after them. Calpurnia seeks every opportunity possible to educate Jem and Scout that racism is unacceptable. For example, Calpurnia takes the children with her to her black church called First Purchase, and because of this, the children are able to better understand the vast separation of race. Scout learns that not only are white people prejudice, but black people are also prejudice. Most of the negroes at First Purchase were very welcoming as the three entered except for Lula who made them feel unwelcome. "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n” (136). Clearly, Lula is prejudice towards white people, similar to how white people are prejudice towards black people. In addition to these prejudice ways, Scout realizes how differently Calpurnia acts around her folks. Calpurnia stated that talking white folks in her church would be “out of place”, and how “folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do” (143). As a result, Calpurnia talks colored-folks’ at her church so she fits in with everyone else, rather than speaking more advanced, which ultimately shows
As the story progresses, Scout slowly becomes introduced into the world of hatred, unfairness, and racism that the 1930’s exposed. Nevertheless, since Scout still had both her innocence and naivete, due to her premature age, she completely expressed total disapproval towards the treatment of blacks during the time of her childhood. The author portrays this disapproval through Dill and Jem, Scout’s friend, and Scout’s brother, respectively, as shown here by Dill, “‘I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right to do ‘em that way. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.’';
This shows that scout has heard the word used at school and assumed that because other people use it, it is not wrong. This demonstrates how racism can be spread across generations. People with racist ideas might not realise that their beliefs are offensive because it is what they have been brought up with. The most obvious example of racism in the book is the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white girl. After hearing the evidence from both sides it is quite obvious that Tom Robinson is not guilty of th... ...
Alveda King once said, “Racism springs from the lie that, human beings are less than fully human. It’s a self centered falsehood that corrupts our minds into believing we are right to treat others as we would not want to be treated”. This quote suggests that racism, a major theme in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is only sprung if one is ignorant or self centered. To Kill A Mockingbird takes place during the Great Depression where a 6 year old Scout and 9 year old Jem learn life lessons from their lawyer father, Atticus, and many more people who they are influenced by in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. During the trial scene in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee uses characterization to show that racism exists in a world of ignorance,
Scout deals with a lot of discrimination during her childhood. Her and her family all have dealt with