Wouldn’t you think that compassion is always a good thing? Generally we associate this with good. However, in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates how the theme of compassion, though can be good, also could be dangerous.
Atticus shows great compassion for Bob Ewell through the quarrel of the Tom Robinson trial. Like on page 235, “I think I understand,” said Atticus. “It might be because he knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believed his and Mayella’s yarns. He thought he’d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was...was, okay, we’ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump. He’s had his fling with about everybody now, so he ought to be satisfied. He’ll calm down when the weather changes.” Through all of Ewell’s advances to harm Atticus, Atticus still believes in Mr. Ewell. But as the book advances, Bob Ewell sees his opportunity to take his revenge on Atticus and follows Jem and Scout home from a Halloween pageant. Then he attacks them and tries to stab Scout. Scout, later recounts on page 358, “Somehow I could think of nothing but Bob Ewell saying he’d get Atticus if it took the rest of his life. Mr Ewell almost got him, and it was the last thing he did.” Because of Atticus’s compassion for Bob Ewell, he didn’t take caution …show more content…
During the trial Tom Robinson is up for questioning when he says on page 264, “Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-,” through this compassion he immediately received negative feedback from the crowd. As in on page 264, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.” Tom Robinson’s compassion was overlooked by the fact of his skin color. Again on page 264, “But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let that sink in.” The more compassion Tom showed the more loathing he
Atticus shows great compassion for Bob Ewell through the quarrel of the Tom Robinson trial. Like on page 235, “I think I understand,” said Atticus. “It might be because he knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believed his and Mayella’s yarns. He thought he’d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was...was, okay, we’ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump. He’s had his fling with about everybody now, so he ought to be satisfied. He’ll calm down when the weather changes.” Through all of Ewell’s advances to harm Atticus, Atticus still believes in Mr. Ewell. But as the book advances, Bob Ewell sees his opportunity to take his revenge on Atticus and follows Jem and Scout home from a Halloween pageant. Then he attacks them and tries to stab Scout. Scout, later recounts on page 358, “Somehow I could think of nothing but Bob Ewell saying he’d get Atticus if it took the rest of his life. Mr Ewell almost got him, and it was the last thing he did.” Because of Atticus’s compassion for Bob Ewell, he didn’t take caution …show more content…
During the trial Tom Robinson is up for questioning when he says on page 264, “Yes suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ‘em-,” through this compassion he immediately received negative feedback from the crowd. As in on page 264, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?” Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.” Tom Robinson’s compassion was overlooked by the fact of his skin color. Again on page 264, “But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinson’s answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let that sink in.” The more compassion Tom showed the more loathing he