To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Quotes

Empathy and perspective is an important part, not only to the reader, but to the characters in the book. For example, when Atticus was talking to Uncle Jack, they were talking about the conversation with him and the Scout, “I know. Your daughter gave me my first lessons this afternoon. She said I didn’t understand children much and told me why. She was quite right. Atticus, she told me how I should have treated her—oh dear, I’m so sorry I romped with her.” (Lee, Chapter 9). When the Scout confronted Uncle Jack, it gave perspective to Uncle Jack. He didn't get her side of the problem and jumped right at her. In addition, when Atticus was explaining why Mrs. Dubose had so many fits to Jem, “Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict,” said Atticus. “She took it as a painkiller for years.” (Lee, Chapter 11). This gives perspective to Jem and the reader because Jem just thought she was a mean old lady, but she had a reason to …show more content…
For example, To illustrate, when Jem and the Scout were walking by Mrs. Dubose’s house, she starts ranting at them, and she says something at the end, “Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Lee, Chapter 11). This shows racism because she is saying that the people he works for are trash. This is also racist because she is calling the people Atticus works for are niggers. To give another example, Mrs. Dubose has been calling Atticus a nigger lover, “‘Atticus,’ I said one evening, ‘what exactly is a nigger-lover?’ Atticus’s face was grave. ‘Has anybody been calling you that? ’No, sir, Mrs. Dubose calls you that. She warms up every afternoon calling you that. Francis called me that last Christmas, that’s where I first heard it.’” (Lee, Chapter 11). This shows racism because Mrs. Dubose and Francis are insulting Atticus because he is defending a black man. In conclusion, racism is a very important part of To Kill a