“Before you judge my life, my past or my character...Walk in my shoes, walk the path I have traveled, live my sorrow, my doubts, my fear, my pain and my laughter...Remember everyone has a story. When you've lived my life you can judge me.”-Unknown. Throughout the book, the main lesson that Atticus tries to pass on to his children in order to live a better life, is to look at things from the perspective of others in order to be more empathetic of their struggles and all sorts of other experiences that they go through. For Atticus, this was not an easy thing to do, especially with Jem and Scout growing up in the south in the 1930s, where segregation and racism is very prominent. In a world where people are judged by the color of their skin,
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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 …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
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 …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