How Characters Learn & Demonstrate Empathy in To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird is an American novel by Harper Lee, published in 1960. It tells the story of Scout, an intelligent young girl who learns valuable life lessons from her father and the events that occur through the novel. Many of Harper Lee’s characters that are unable to empathise at the start of the novel grow and mature into morally good people who understand and demonstrate empathy. The prime example of this is Scout, who learns important life lessons about moral behaviour through her father, Atticus. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is one of Atticus’ most distinctive attributes and he aims to instil this in his children. Through the course of the novel, Atticus displays empathy towards Tom Robinson and Mrs Dubose. Scout learns and understands what it means to be empathetic and how it affects her perception of the world and displays empathy towards Miss Caroline and Boo Radley.
Atticus is presented as the hallmark of an empathetic, moral person. He is more than aware that defending a black man in a case against a white woman will lead to insults and even violence from the community towards his family. Yet, he does not falter in defending what he believes, showing how much he empathises with Tom Robinson as an innocent man, regardless of his skin colour. Atticus’ compassion for others despite their skin colour is illustrated when he says, “I do my best to love everybody” (pg. 118). Atticus also shows his dedication to defending people who he empathises with by standing outside Tom Robinson’s jail cell when a mob intends to lynch Robinson, thus showing Atticus’ authenticity to his moral values even when there are threats to his safety. Furthermore, an important aspect of Atticus’ demeanour is that he expresses his empathy for others without demeaning or dishonouring them. When Jem expresses that he is not sorry for destroying Mrs Dubose’s bushes, Atticus empathises with her by saying, “she’s old and ill. You can’t hold her responsible for what she says and does” (pg. 114). Atticus’ respect for Mrs Dubose is reinforced after she passes away when, to Jem’s surprise, Atticus calls Mrs Dubose a “great lady,” (pg. 121) and that “she was the bravest person [he] ever knew” (pg.121). This is despite Mrs Dubose’s disapproval of Atticus’ doings, constant remarks about the children, and criticism of Atticus’ parenting. Thus, Atticus patently illustrates great empathy for others regardless of their race or beliefs, as shown through his respect and treatment of Tom Robinson and Mrs Dubose.
Another character that displays empathy in To Kill A Mockingbird is Scout. Scout considerably matures through the course of the novel, and her main role model and teacher for moral behaviour is her father. Her first lesson in empathy takes place when Scout says she no longer wants to go to school as Miss Caroline, her teacher, told her to stop learning to read. Atticus considers this and states, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (pg. 31). This powerful quote highlights the importance of putting oneself in another’s shoes and is an important point in teaching Scout not to judge others. With Atticus’ guidance, Scout understands that as Miss Caroline is new to the town, she should not be expected to learn all of their ways in a single day and be held responsible for when she knows no better. Scout goes on to apply this advice further through her dealings with Boo Radley. This is demonstrated when she tells Atticus she agrees that Boo’s involvement in saving Jem should be kept private. Scout describes bringing Boo into the limelight as “sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird” (pg. 302). This is further strengthened after Scout takes Boo home and states, “One time [Atticus] said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the porch is enough” (pg. 305). This displays how much Scout has grown in her moral behaviour, from the start of the novel when she is outraged at Miss Caroline, to see the situation from Boo’s point of view. Hence, Scout learns to show empathy towards people such as Miss Caroline and Boo Radley.
Harper Lee features empathy as part of moral behaviour as a major theme in her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus demonstrates empathy through his wholehearted defence of Tom Robinson, despite it being against social norms, and his reverence of Mrs Dubose despite her disrespectful remarks against his family. Additionally, Scout learns from his example and grows and matures to exhibit morality and empathy as well. This is demonstrated when she puts herself in the shoes of Miss Caroline and Boo Radley to understand and empathise with them. Thus, empathy is learned and illustrated by the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird.
