The most despicable characters are worthy of compassion in To Kill a Mockingbird. To what extent do you agree?
Most of the people of Maycomb in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee have experiences or stories that make them worthy of compassion. Mayella Ewell fears being shunned by society and commits an unvirtuous deed. Mrs Dubose causes Jem and Scout to suffer with her insistent rude and racist comments, but carries the weight of battling a morphine addiction on her frail shoulders. Though they may cause suffering to various characters, these individuals have suffered themselves, or fear a greater consequence by their own mistakes. Antithetically, cruel and heartless figures like Bob Ewell have no redeeming qualities and behave in an unjustifiable immoral way.
Mayella Ewell’s actions lead to the unjust imprisonment of the Tom Robinson, and cause devastation among his family and the black community. Her life experiences and position as a ‘victim of cruel poverty and ignorance’ make her a character deserving of sympathy. ‘Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world’ and if she had admitted that the rape had not occurred, the prejudiced society she lived in would have rejected her. Her fear of her community and her father’s abuse victimises her. In the scenario of the court case, she is the one negatively affecting other people. Her age, lack of education and woman figure in her home are factors that shaped her error of judgement and may have caused her to act immaturely and despicably. ‘No code mattered to her before she’ initiated her relationship with Tom Robinson; she had only wanted attention and her young age and uneducated perception failed to acknowledge the repercussions. Although she had caused the death of an innocent man, Mayella’s experiences and tough upbringing make her a character that deserves compassion.
Though she is cruel and disrespectful, Mrs Dubose should be perceived as a moral person too. Scout and Jem consider her to be ‘the meanest old woman who ever lived’ as she causes them immense misery with her unpleasant words.
Mayella Ewell’s actions lead to the unjust imprisonment of the Tom Robinson, and cause devastation among his family and the black community. Her life experiences and position as a ‘victim of cruel poverty and ignorance’ make her a character deserving of sympathy. ‘Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world’ and if she had admitted that the rape had not occurred, the prejudiced society she lived in would have rejected her. Her fear of her community and her father’s abuse victimises her. In the scenario of the court case, she is the one negatively affecting other people. Her age, lack of education and woman figure in her home are factors that shaped her error of judgement and may have caused her to act immaturely and despicably. ‘No code mattered to her before she’ initiated her relationship with Tom Robinson; she had only wanted attention and her young age and uneducated perception failed to acknowledge the repercussions. Although she had caused the death of an innocent man, Mayella’s experiences and tough upbringing make her a character that deserves compassion.
Though she is cruel and disrespectful, Mrs Dubose should be perceived as a moral person too. Scout and Jem consider her to be ‘the meanest old woman who ever lived’ as she causes them immense misery with her unpleasant words.