How is empathy the solution to racism and prejudice? The author shows empathy when Atticus agrees to go to court with Tom Robinson. Jem shows empathy when he stops Scout from beating up Walter Cunningham Jr. and he could have been hurt. Empathy was also shown from Scout when she goes with Jem to the hospital were Mrs. Dubose was and she felt sorry for avoiding her all the time. Empathy is shown by many of the characters in the novel in many different ways. Empathy is the solution to racism and prejudice through part one of the novel. Atticus shows empathy towards Tom Robinson when he says that he will take Tom Robinson's case in court. Atticus knew that he would probably lose the court. He didn't want to give up on tom Robinson so …show more content…
Dubose and she felt bad to let him go alone. Scout accompanied Jem to the hospital where Mrs. Dubose was. Scout felt sorry for Mrs. Dubose because they have always hated her but now they began to realize that Mrs. Dubose was not a bad person after all. Jem and Scout would always try and avoid her when they passed by her house. Jem and Scout both had empathy towards Mrs. Dubose now that she was sick because they misunderstood her and would always pre-judge Mrs. Dubose because of who they thought she was but if they would have shown empathy to her before, Scout and Jem would not have ruined Mrs. Dubose's flowers and they wouldn't have prejudged her just because she was an old lady. Atticus showed empathy towards Tom Robinson by going to court. Atticus knew that he would not be able to win the case, but he did know that he would be able to get the truth told. Atticus wanted everyone to know that they were putting an innocent man in the chair. Bob Ewell was being prejudice towards Tom Robinson because he just assumed that he raped his daughter without being sure. Atticus is a role model for the whole town and wants everyone to know that empathy is the solution to racism and prejudice by taking Tom Robinson's case and getting the truth
Empathy is one of the greatest powers that a human being can ever hope to achieve; one person being able to understand the inner-workings of another is something truly amazing. However, empathy isn’t something that one is always naturally able to accomplish; in fact, it usually takes a long time for one to develop any empathy at all. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader follows Scout Finch as she experiences her youth in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. In this story, we experience her empathy for others as it increases or decreases. Though there are many examples of these alterations in Scout’s relationships, there is one that is both prominent and more complex than a few others; her relationship with her aunt, Alexandra. There are three specific instances in which we can track the progression of Scout’s empathy towards her aunt; meeting Aunt Alexandra, Scout wanting to invite Walter Cunningham over, and the assault by Bob Ewell of Scout and Jem.
Have American’s lost the ability to show empathy? Although a novice reader may struggle to see how a book written over 50 years ago bears any connection to our modern world, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird could not be any more relevant. The citizens of fictional Maycomb County acknowledge their flawed legal system and unfair social castes as unfortunate truths of life, of which all you can do is accept it as fact. The sole exception is lawyer Atticus Finch, who is in charge of defending the accused in court. After seeing all too many men receive a sentence simply because of the color of their skin, Atticus embarks on a quest to teach Jem and Scout, his children, that prejudice can be fought. By understanding and exposing ourselves to different people, we can free ourselves from prejudice.
In they story, Atticus shows love towards Tom Robinson throughout he whole case. Atticus took Tom's case because he believes that everyone's equal "This case is something that goes to the essence of a mans conscience- Scout, I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't try to help that man. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a persons conscience." (Atticus, 139). This quote shows that Atticus believes Tom is the same as everyone else and that if he didn't defend Tom he wouldn't
Living in a world of discrimination of every kind is unavoidable, but being that people do have a choice they can change. As individuals they can change and become more accepting towards diversity. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee guides the reader through the theme of acceptance. Atticus, Jem, and Scout know and learn the importance of acceptance throughout the novel. All three of them eventually share the same view of acceptance through equality.
When most people were against him and are trying to convince him not to, Atticus was determined to continue defending Tom Robinson (an African American who was accused of raping a white lady name Mayella Ewell - Mr. Ewell's daughter). (Make it active voice ?) Due to his good morals, Atticus felt like he needs to help Tom Robinson “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience --- Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man” (108). As addressed in To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim Crow laws manipulated individuals ethics to think that blaming African Americans is fine since all they do is not good (change the wordings). This type of discrimination made African American victims of jails and crimes that they did not even consider doing but were thought of doing because of racial segregation enforcement (popularity?) within the Southern society of the US. However, Atticus was different and believed that Tom robinson is innocent since he understood (understands?) how people discriminate others and was aware (is aware) of different types of prejudice (in that time period). So, due to Atticus’ good morals and values, he was willing to try his best to support the truth (who was right or something) and help Tom Robinson which makes him a great parent because (he is a person of morals?) of his good morals and values (delete morals and values?). Atticus (atticus’s ?) belief (of noting using one’s power to hurt each other … ?) that people should not harm each other should be admired. For instance, Miss Maudie (Atticus neighbour) was confirming to Scout that what Atticus said about Mockingbirds is right “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They
Atticus also shows empathy when he visits the African Americans and later comes home and finds his kitchen littered with food in appreciation for his defense of Tom Robinson and he responds that he is grateful and also asks them not to do it again because times are too hard.
Atticus was incredibly courageous taking on tom Robinsons case against the prejudice of Macomb County and he shows incredible courage when he says, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and won." He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom Robinson, "That boy may go to the chair, but he's not going till the truth's told." Chapter 15, Page 146. He was against the whole white community including his own sister practically said that he was a disgrace to his family Atticus tells scout when she asks him why he is taking the case he says "For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again.
To Kill A Mockingbird demonstrates the value of compassion and understanding through one, Atticus and his taking of Tom Robinsons
To begin with, Scout learns reality is not how it appears through her neighbors. Surely Mrs. Dubose is not as heartless as she first seems to be. Mrs. Dubose poses as a high maintenance old lady that interrogates Scout's and Jem's behavior on a daily basis. She seems callous and inhumane with her spiteful remarks about how she is an "ugly girl" (Lee 99) and how her "father's no better than the niggers and trash he works for" (Lee 102). After the destructive encounter with her precious camellia bushes and endurance of a reading punishment Scout sees her in a new light after her death. Despite her initial depiction of the fowl mouth of Mrs. Dubose she finds out that "She was the bravest person [Atticus] ever knew" (Lee112) and simply "died beholden ...
Atticus remained a pillar of righteousness in a town whose moral foundation was weak to say the least. When Atticus took Tom Robinson's case, he didn't treat the case differently from any other he might take on. He knew that there was no way that Tom would be saved from death no matter how well he defended him. From opening to closing statements, Atticus remained vigilant in his defense of Tom.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings with others. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are many characters who showed the quality of empathy. A few examples who undoubtedly showed empathy were the main characters Jem, Atticus, and the narrator Scout Finch. These characters learned and demonstrated compassion throughout the book.
He stands up for what is right and understands people he encounters. “In the text of page 144, Atticus says, “I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody…” Atticus stands firm with Tom Robinson, enduring the racism and prejudice coming their way.
During a time when black people were thought to be lower than white people, Atticus defended a black man in court. He said to his children, "I'm simply defending a Negrohis name's Tom Robinson," (pg. 75). It required a lot of confidence and caring for Atticus to defend Tom, and the black community knew that Tom did not stand a chance without Atticus' help. They respected him and looked to him as a hero. They showed this when they stood up for him in the courtroom. Reverend Sykes said to Scout in the courtroom, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin," (pg. 211). The entire group of black people who were there stood up for him. Also, the parishioners at Calpurnia's church made Jem and Scout feel welcome when they visited their church. This showed that the black people also respected Atticus' family. If Atticus were just trying his best in a difficult circumstance, then he would not be as respected as he was by the black community. The black people greatly acknowledged the qualities that Atticus displayed by defending Tom and looked to him as a hero because of these qualities.
Atticus shows great compassion and tolerance when he stands up for the Negroes. He stands up and represents Tom Robinson because he believes that everyone should be treated equally in the court of law. He knows that because Tom was a Negro there would be a slim chance of winning. That fact never discouraged him though because he says that the main reason he is representing Tom is because, ' if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature'; (75). He recited a speech, which clearly states that Tom Robinson is not guilty. In that speech he says, 'our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal'; (205). He believed that prejudice and stereotyping is wrong and he tries to teach these morals to Scout and Jem.
Towards the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus decides to represent a colored man by the man of Tom Robinson, who is being accused of raping Mayella Ewell, Bob Ewell’s daughter. Atticus believes that Tom is innocent, but he does not think that Tom will be found not guilty because of they way the townsfolk treat colored people. They treat them like dirt; like they are worth nothing. Atticus went ahead and represented Tom despite the fact that he knew the townsfolk would call himself and his children names and treat them disrespectfully. Even Scout’s relative Francis said rude things about them. “‘I guess it ain't your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but I'm here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family-...’ ‘Just what I said. Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a nigger-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb agin. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'.’” Atticus set a good example for Scout and Jem. He had a difficult decision to make, but he chose what he thought was