Preview

Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
862 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird
Author Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is written about two siblings, Jean Louise and Jeremy Finch. They live with their father Atticus, a respected lawyer. Living in a town called Macomb County, this family has endured many hardships. Despite the odds, they manage to maintain a very healthy relationship. In today’s society people people do not usually care about others, it is one for all instead of all for one. Lee writes about how having compassion can help create and strengthen bonds with others. To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, explains the effects of having compassion through Scout getting to know Walter Cunningham, Atticus defending a colored man, and atticus treating Bob Ewell with respect. Jean Louise, or Scout, is of a higher social status than many of the kids in her class. Being quite mature for her age, she does not particularly like many of the other students; Walter Cunningham in particular. Scout tried defending him on the first day of school to only get in trouble by the teacher. So she did what she thought was a right punishment for him, she rubbed his nose in the dirt. Jeremy, Scout’s brother, stops the fight and invites Walter to their house for dinner. The Finch’s cook Calpurnia influences Scout’s views by saying, “...Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the …show more content…
It is much easier to point out a flaw than to understand a flaw and accept it. Compassion can be shown in many ways in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. Scout being able to appreciate Walter Cunningham, Atticus trying to free a wrongfully convicted man, and Atticus remaining very poised around Bob Ewell are just a few examples. This book has many great morals, paired with comedy and realism. Having such diverse characters helps prove that no matter who someone is, showing compassion when needed, can mend and create strong bonds with unlikely

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    As people grow in life, they mature and change in many different ways. Harper Lee is the author of To Kill a Mocking Bird. This book is about Scout Finch and her life in the 1930’s in Maycomb County, Alabama. Harpe, shows how Scout matures and progresses in this book along with many other things. For example Scout, the main character, realizes her town is racist after the Tom Robinson trial. Harper also informs the reader about things Scout does not understand throughout the book. One of the things she demonstrates is the reason why Jem, Scout’s brother, is acting different. She does not know what people act like at that age because she is a lot younger, so all of his behavior is new to her. One of the other examples Harper shows is the very unique relationship between Miss Caroline, Scout’s teacher, and Scout. They would like each other, but Miss Caroline’s teaching strategy is bad for Scout because she is able read.…

    • 826 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Compassion. Empathy. Understanding. As Atticus stated in "To Kill a Mockingbird," "You never really understand a person until...you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. "…

    • 294 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin, the author of the story To Kill A Mockingbird tells the life of brother, Jeremy Finch and his sister, Scout who grew up in the era of racism and social inequality. Jeremy Finch, better known as Jem, is a typical young boy who grew up in a small Alabama town of Maycomb. He was described has someone who had an interest in sports, guns and being tough. The author, Harper Lee develops the character of Jem, who encounters many conflicts (internal and external) and shows how many of them were handled with using the theme of coming of age. With Jem’s voice and characterization, Lee shows how a young immature boy can grow into a mature, independent man.…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Harper Lee’s phenomenal story “To Kill a MockingBird” we see a tale of three young kids, and their struggles and experiences throughout their time period. We were also able to see a lot of courage shown from our characters. Without this bravery the story would’ve had a different tone and feeling.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird is a story that teaches the true values of compassion and understanding. It is a story that uses the protagonists to show compassion instead of prejudice. Each antagonist in the story falls into the temptation of siding with the major party. Instead of doing the right thing, they do what is comfortable and easy. Harper Lee uses Atticus's fearlessness to inspire her readers. These important life values are values that every reader should demonstrate in their everyday…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book, Harper Lee shows the theme a need for compassion by using characterization. In the book she characterizes Atticus “It's not okay” He said “it's not okay to hate anyone” (page 282). The author mainly uses this characterization device to show the need for compassion through Atticus. The author mainly by having characterizes Atticus by having him show a lot of compassion for other people. Atticus also has a lot of compassion for his work and never gives up on his clients. Atticus having so much…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama, Buddhist leader…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Atticus Finch Defending

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the importance of defending and protecting the defenseless is very prominent throughout the entire story. To Kill a Mockingbird is about two children, Jean Louise Finch, who is referred to as Scout, and her older brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, who is referred to as Jem. They both live with their father, Atticus Finch, in the small, dull town of Maycomb. The novel showcases the events and timeline of Scout and Jem’s journey into maturity, as they learn about the importance of protecting the innocent and defending the defenseless. Harper Lee examines the importance of protecting the vulnerable members of society, as is shown through the characters of Tom Robinson, Arthur Radley, and Walter Cunningham.…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    To Kill a Mockingbird: a novel set in the Jim Crow south showing injustice and society through the eyes of a young girl, written by (Nelle) Harper Lee, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Lee started writing started writing at the University of Alabama newspaper and then pursued writing in New york. After working odd jobs for about eight years, and with the help of Truman Capote, Lee published the bestseller “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Scout is the main character in this novel as the son of Atticus Finch, sister to Jem Finch, friend to many, and the narrator. The whole story is shown through Scout’s eyes. She recognizes all of the injustice and problems with their society. She learns many lessons from Atticus and her many experiences that she has in Maycomb County. Atticus stood up for a negroe, John Robinson, who didn’t commit a crime, even though everyone was against him; he defended the mockingbird.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the grand scheme of things, each of us is working hard to see ourselves prosper. When we are fighting for survival, why should any of us take the time to feel for our fellow human beings? In her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee implies that having the ability to feel for others or to show empathy not only benefits others, but can lead to personal gains as well. This is best demonstrated through the characters of Atticus, Jem, and Scout Finch.…

    • 836 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine living in a rural town in Alabama back in the early nineteen hundreds; racism runs wild and social injustices occur frequently, unregulated by law enforcement. This is just what The Finch family in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, has to deal with. This is an appealing story about the Finch family and the problems that they face, especially regarding an instance of racial oppression involving a black man and a white lawyer, Atticus Finch. Besides Atticus Finch, other characters in the town of Maycomb such as Boo Radley, and Scout Finch are all known for their courageous and sometimes defying actions throughout the book.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sin to Kill a Mockingbird

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages

    It is a sin to hurt the ones that only help the helpless and only do good things for the world. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a young girl named Scout Finch goes on many adventures with her older brother, Jem. They lived in Maycomb County in the mid 1930s. They deal with visits from their best friend, Dill, trouble with the town’s biggest trial and missions to get their neighbor, Boo Radley, out of his house for the first time in years. At the time, Atticus, their father, was the best lawyer in town and he had new case. He had to defend a black man that was accused of raping a white woman. His name was Tom Robinson and this trial became the talk of the town. This affected Scout and Jem greatly and created one of their longest journeys. The most important theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the sin to kill a mockingbird. The mockingbirds in this novel are Atticus, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. They affected them gravely and were important characters in the novel.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    dont open this paper

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a story of racial prejudice and social class set in a time when such narrow-mindedness was considered acceptable. Narrated and based on Jean Louise Finch and the many problems she and her brother, Jem, face in their years growing up; out of childhood innocence they come to the realization of the true evils of their community. Such as, false pretenses surrounding the innocence of two characters, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, for which the community of Maycomb had long labeled and ridiculed for either their color or peculiar behavior patterns. Lee writes this novel about personal experiences she has growing up. Harper Lee is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of the brilliantly written To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee uses symbolism and foreshadowing to demonstrate courage is doing the right thing regardless of the outcome.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many conflicts take place on the first day of school which lead to her understanding of race, skin and wealth are all equal. Everybody has had enough of her attitude including her teacher, Mrs. Caroline, who said "Jean Louise, I've had about enough of you this morning." (Lee21) On the first day of school, Jean goes through many struggles with the characters including with one of the Cunningham's, Walter. Walter comes from a poor family, as most of the people in Maycomb, and he does not have enough money for lunch one day. Being the blabber mouth Jean is, Jean tells her teacher Mrs. Caroline that Walter is just one of the Cunningham's. Being a new teacher at the school Mrs. Caroline hardly understands what she is talking about. After elaborating on Jean's behalf to Mrs. Caroline, it results to half a dozen smacks on Jean's hand. After beating up Walter, Jem, Scouts brother invites Walter to dinner with the Finches. When Walter pours syrup on everything they are eating, Scout lashes out on him and learns a very significant lesson from Calpurnia. "Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo' comp'ny, and don't you let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty! (Lee24) On the first day of school scout goes through much dilemma to help her understand people different…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The perspective many people have to society's ways, has a great impact on the way people think, believe, and hold, when faced with the issue of their ethical principles. Harper Lee, tackles this predicament and explains it through the ideas in her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by showing how perspective affects the beliefs people attain to. Through Atticus Finch the heroine of the novel, and the father of the protagonist Jean-Louise (Scout) and her brother, Jeremy Atticus Finch (Jem), Lee displays the wisdom of Atticus in the events surrounding the air-rifles, Scouts fighting habits, and Mrs. Dubose’s addiction, and the way that Atticus’ perspective has shaped these beliefs.…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays