To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis

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Yuuki Hosokawa
Ms. Stradinger
A1 English 9 Honors
21 October 2015
Empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird
Being able to empathize is an important trait to acquire and use. The ability to empathize goes beyond sympathy, it is to put “yourself in someone 's shoes”, or to understand and share the feelings of another through the use of imagination. One reason it might be important is that empathy can help to deal with the negativity of others, while somebody may bring you down by saying rude comments you can empathize that perhaps they are going through hardships and it 's hard to keep inside anger for a long time, so they unleash it on you. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is a role model to his children, he’s a kind, loving and a smart …show more content…

An example of using empathy to combat prejudice was when Atticus made the decision to defend Tom Robinson and represent him in the court of law. Although he knew that there would be repercussions from some for defending a black man. He took the case as he empathized with Tom Robinson and the difficulties he faced as an African American in the South. Tom is an example of empathy in the book. This a quote on page 117 showing Atticus’s opinion on the jury deciding Tom’s case: "There 's nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who 'll take advantage of a Negro 's ignorance... whenever a white man does that to a black man... the white man is trash." (Harper 117). The quote shows the empathy that Atticus displayed and felt sorry for Tom as he knew he would be convicted, as his race determined the outcome of his trial before it ever started. One reason Atticus decided to take the case was that he thought it was unjust for Tom to be punished for a crime, even though he was innocent. More importantly, he felt he had an obligation to perform his best and present a winning case. In taking the case and proving Tom was innocent, yet still convicted he tried to change the town’s attitude towards African …show more content…

Atticus’s main trait is the ability to empathize and understand or view other’s perspective. The ending of the book highlights this extremely important emotion and the impact it had on Scout. After being attacked by Bob Ewell, Scout stands on Radley 's porch and she finally sees the world from Boo’s perspective, not only physically but figuratively. She reminisces and visually imagines what Boo Radley must’ve seen all those times she was outside. Scout uses Atticus’ advice and places herself in Boo’s shoes, imagining him watching her grow up. Harper Lee ends on this note which demonstrates the lasting influence and the importance of empathizing and understanding and helping one’s

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