Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, uses a theme of empathy to portray, with the use of indirect characterization, that you cannot fully understand something until you see it from another person's point of view. The first time Atticus applies this lesson to Scout is when she comes home from school and tells him that her teacher, Miss Caroline, told her that Atticus taught her all wrong and she doesn’t want to go to school anymore. …show more content…
Atticus tells her that in order to be able understand people’s thoughts, and their ways of being, she must learn to see things from their perspective. He advises her to look at life from a different angle. Atticus explains, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Lee 39). Without directly stating it, Lee reveals that Atticus is very wise and empathetic. He is teaching Scout to understand the importance of being empathetic as it is a vital part of life. This lesson continues to be taught throughout the book and another instance of it occurs when Scout walks away from a fight with Cecil Jacobs. After Cecil insults her father and Tom Robinson to her face, Scout clenches her fists but eventually lets them drop when Atticus’ voice pops into her head and reminds her of what he said to her the day before. At the playground, “ I drew a bead on him, then remembered what Atticus had said, then dropped my fist then walked away. “Scout’s a cow-ward!” ringing in my ears.” It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight. Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down.” (102). Again, using indirect characterization, Harper Lee shows how the maturing character Scout is starting to listen to her father's words and understand the concept of empathy. This is the first time that Scout is independently putting herself in the shoes of someone else, Atticus, to help make better decisions herself. As the book goes on, the theme of empathy keeps popping up. It becomes a major lesson in the story. During Tom Robinson’s trial Scout feels empathetic toward one of the more unexpected characters, Mayella Ewell. While watching the case, Scout tries her best to fully understand the motives and feelings that each person involved experiences. Scout explains, “As Tom Robinson gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world.” (256) Scout thinks about Mayella Ewell and what she experiences in her day to day life. She eventually uses this inference to figure out the reason that Mayella Ewell is doing what she’s up to. Scout infers that Mayella Ewell is looking for attention in order to escape her horribly lonely life. Harper Lee’s use of indirect characterization in this quote portrays how scout is progressing with her understanding and implementation of empathetic reasoning. This understanding and implementation only progresses as Scout matures and grows up. The Finch's neighbor, Mrs. Dubose, is one of the most influential characters in the whole book. She shows Scout, but more prominently Jem, what it really means to be brave, and the true definition of courage. Only after the death of their neighbor does Jem realize what she was going through in her final days and he understands that he shouldn’t have judged her so harshly. Atticus questions, “Son, didn’t you know what her fits were?” Jem shook his head. “Mrs. Dubose was a