Examples Of Forgiveness In To Kill A Mockingbird

Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Forgiveness is a fundamental concept in To Kill a Mockingbird. When one forgives and shows compassion for another he or she takes the risk that they will be wounded again. Yet, many of Harper Lee’s characters manage compassion for those who are clearly undeserving. These characters attest that while, forgiving is not forgetting, forgiveness can lead to tolerance. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird shows that forgiveness can be liberating, rectifying, and nurturing.

For many, Atticus is a beacon of justice however, he embodies forgiveness in its purest form. His character shows that justice is not elusive of compassion, but rather that through the pursuit of justice one can obtain forgiveness. “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial… So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll

To forgive is to have enough compassion for the situation of another human being and to then move forward. While forgiveness is sometimes one-sided, Jem and Mrs. Dubose show us how shared reconciliation can hold extraordinary significance. “I cleaned it up for her and said I was sorry, but I ain’t, and that I’d work on ‘em ever Saturday and try to make ’em grow back out.” “There was no point in saying you were sorry if you aren’t,” said Atticus (p.108). This exchange between Atticus and Jem shows that true forgiveness is freely given, it cannot be forced or coerced. After the death of Mrs. Dubose, Jem is finally able to wholeheartedly forgive her. While Mrs. Dubose never verbally forgives Jem she leaves him a camellia, symbolism for her clemency and gratitude. With this forgiveness Mrs. Dubose gives Jem a priceless gift allowing him to move forward. This mutual mercy ends the cycle of discontent between the two