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To Kill A Mockingbird Compassion Quotes

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Scouts Lessons in Compassion
Compassion is a distinguishing quality. Associated with maturity and kindness, compassion is an emotional understanding or empathy for others that governs kind actions and citizenship. Throughout literacy, compassion resonates as a valuable lesson and skill for characters to learn because of its importance in a kind, functional society. Harper Lee uses compassion as a topic in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The childhood experience recounted in the novel help the protagonist, Jean Louise Finch, to grow compassionate through the teaching of important life lessons about injustice, empathy, and prejudice.

Jean Louis Finch, also called Scout, learns about injustice from the Tom Robinson trial. Atticus says to the …show more content…

Empathy is he ability to understand and the feelings of another. Scout first begins to have an inkling of understanding for Boo when Jem says to her, “ Scout, I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up in the house all this time… it's because he wants to stay inside.” It isn't until much later in the book that Scout fully comprehends empathy for herself when she stands on Boo Radleys porch and pretends that she is him watching g from the window, “Fall and children trotted to and fro around the corner… winter, and children shivered at the front gate… summer and he watched his children's heart break.” Scout says in her narration, “Atticus was right. One time he said you never know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley’s porch was enough.” Scout fully comprehends Boo Radleys seclusion and sees things how he may see them. She makes an effort to view life and attempt to understand the thoughts and feelings of Boo Radley. With a better understanding of empathy, Scout is able to to be more compassionate. She can better understand people's thinking and can then feel remorseful for them. Scout is more able to help and be kind and compassionate because she is conscious of an emotional connection to them. Scouts experiences with Boo Radley taught her emotional empathy and the ability of compassion. Jean Louis Finches understanding of of compassion is even further …show more content…

Prejudice is judging someone or something based on a preconceived notion formed through experience. In the beginning of the book, Scout says to Calpurnia, “He ain't company Cal, he's just a Cunningham.” Scout judges Walter because he does not have as much money as the Finches and because his personal hygiene habits are different than hers, as well as his table manners. Later in the book however, Scout says, “soon’s school starts I'm gonna ask Walter home to dinner… he can stay over sometimes after school too. Atticus could drive him back to Old Sarum. Maybe he could spend the night with us some time…” When aunt Alexandra objects, Scout says, “Why not Aunty? They're good folks.” and “I want to play with Walter.” At first Scout judged Walter because of who his family was, but in the end Scout stands up for Walter as a friend. Scout learned not to judge people by their families and manners. When Scout learns about prejudice she also learns about compassion. To not judge people and have an emotional understanding for them personally is being compassionate. Without realizing it Scout showed compassion for Walter at the end. Scouts experience with Walter Cunningham Jr. taught her about prejudice which helped teach her

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