Examples Of Compassion In To Kill A Mockingbird

From Impulsion to Sophistication In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Scout Finch is portrayed as a fearless and outspoken young girl with the belief that using an aggressive approach in order to resolve a conflict is justified when defending others. As the story progresses, she evolves into a more civilized and mature individual who believes that in order to understand a person, their thoughts and feelings must be considered. Her transition demonstrates that it takes a forgiving person to relinquish a grudge, but it takes a compassionate person to care about the feelings of another. In the beginning of the novel, Scout’s bold and candid personality reveals her drive to stand up for others and speak her mind, even toward authority figures.
When Miss Caroline offers Walter Cunningham a quarter because he does not have a lunch, Scout “…[rises] graciously on Walter’s behalf…” and explains how Miss Caroline is “…shamin’ him…” Scout’s forthright and direct personality and belief in standing up for others is presented by her frank and honest comments and opinions that are blatantly delivered. She is motivated by her strong moral values and urge to help others by explaining their entailments to those who are not enlightened. After Walter causes Scout to get punished by Miss Caroline, Scout catches him in the schoolyard and “…[rubs] his nose in the dirt...” Lee reveals Scout’s belligerent character and belief in violence through her bullying and bellicose actions. Scout’s drive to defend and speak for others compels her to be an antagonistic figure during conflicts. As the text continues, a more sensible and sophisticated Scout understands that stepping into someone’s shoes can benefit a strained relationship. The day after Cecil Jacobs insults Atticus, Scout confronts him and is ready to fight, but “…[remembers] what Atticus [has] said, then [drops her] fists and [walks] away.” Her maturity continues to be revealed by her defensive, but more tranquil actions that explain her belief in protecting others. Her motivation to refrain from violence is her dedication and yearning to please her father. When Jem is startled after going to the Radley house to obtain his pants, Scout “…[tries] to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it.” Her consideration for Jem implies that she listens to Atticus and tries to understand how Jem is feeling in order to benefit their relationship as siblings. Her desire to understand and help Jem motivates her to be considerate of his thoughts and feelings. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee introduces scout as a bold personality through her impulsive and defensive actions toward others. Scout transforms throughout the text into a compassionate individual who demonstrates her belief in understanding and analyzing a person’s feelings before acting hastily. Throughout her transformation, Lee emphasizes that just forgiving someone is not considering his or her emotions.