As Atticus Finch teaches his daughter in To Kill A Mockingbird, ‘(...) if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks, 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’” (Lee 39). Empathy is one of the most important parts of human life. It allows people to achieve a deeper understanding of the thoughts and emotions others may experience. This value is a recurring concept in To Kill A Mockingbird as the novel features the perspectives of many controversial characters, such as Mayella Ewell. While her actions cannot be justified, Mayella deserves the empathy of readers. She is especially in need of empathy
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To begin with, Mayella has no friends. When asked about her friends, Mayella is initially confused and then assumes she is being mocked (Lee 245). Mayella has no friends which is quite unlike the typical teenage girl. It is understandable how isolated Mayella must have felt with no one to socialize with. To continue with, Mayella received little assistance from her family members. When Tom Robinson was being questioned by Mr. Gilmer he explains “‘Looked like she didn’t have nobody to help her, like I says--’” (Lee 263). Although Mayella had seven siblings Tom was able to recognize the fact that Mayella often did tasks alone. Lastly, Scout Finch claims Mayella is the most lonesome person in the world. She notes to herself, “(...) it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley, who had not been out of the house in twenty-five years” (Lee 256). Scout is able to recognize and illustrate Mayella's isolation by comparing her to the intensely withdrawn Boo Radley. Therefore, Mayella deserves the solicitude and sensitivity of readers, especially since loneliness is a feeling everyone has experienced …show more content…
To begin with, Mayella possesses real emotions. At one point in the trial Scout observes Mayella, “Then she burst into real tears. Her shoulders shook with angry sobs” (Lee 251). This allows them to imagine how Mayella must have felt in such a burdensome position. Similarly, it reminds readers that she is deserving of compassion and kindness. Second, Mayella continues her human habits despite her home conditions. As described by Scout, she looks like she tries to keep clean (Lee 239). This demonstrates how Mayella does not want to give in to the Ewell stereotype of filth and negligence. Finally, Mayella yearns for a better life. When Scout is describing the Ewells’ yard she depicts, “Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums (...) People said they were Mayella Ewell’s” (Lee 228). Mayella dreams about a beautiful and improved life, and readers can share this feeling with her because many people long for this as well. To conclude, the fact that Mayella has emotions and desires reminds readers that they similar to her in many ways, it also prompts readers to imagine themselves in her
To begin with, Mayella has no friends. When asked about her friends, Mayella is initially confused and then assumes she is being mocked (Lee 245). Mayella has no friends which is quite unlike the typical teenage girl. It is understandable how isolated Mayella must have felt with no one to socialize with. To continue with, Mayella received little assistance from her family members. When Tom Robinson was being questioned by Mr. Gilmer he explains “‘Looked like she didn’t have nobody to help her, like I says--’” (Lee 263). Although Mayella had seven siblings Tom was able to recognize the fact that Mayella often did tasks alone. Lastly, Scout Finch claims Mayella is the most lonesome person in the world. She notes to herself, “(...) it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley, who had not been out of the house in twenty-five years” (Lee 256). Scout is able to recognize and illustrate Mayella's isolation by comparing her to the intensely withdrawn Boo Radley. Therefore, Mayella deserves the solicitude and sensitivity of readers, especially since loneliness is a feeling everyone has experienced …show more content…
To begin with, Mayella possesses real emotions. At one point in the trial Scout observes Mayella, “Then she burst into real tears. Her shoulders shook with angry sobs” (Lee 251). This allows them to imagine how Mayella must have felt in such a burdensome position. Similarly, it reminds readers that she is deserving of compassion and kindness. Second, Mayella continues her human habits despite her home conditions. As described by Scout, she looks like she tries to keep clean (Lee 239). This demonstrates how Mayella does not want to give in to the Ewell stereotype of filth and negligence. Finally, Mayella yearns for a better life. When Scout is describing the Ewells’ yard she depicts, “Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums (...) People said they were Mayella Ewell’s” (Lee 228). Mayella dreams about a beautiful and improved life, and readers can share this feeling with her because many people long for this as well. To conclude, the fact that Mayella has emotions and desires reminds readers that they similar to her in many ways, it also prompts readers to imagine themselves in her