“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This commonly used saying, from Acts 20:35, is displayed numerous times in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Generosity is defined as “the act of being kind and generous.” Although each time generosity is displayed the motive behind the gesture is slightly different, each time someone wanted to bless another. They all wanted to connect and show appreciation to the person they were giving too. Generosity is displayed by Boo Radley, Calpurnia’s church, and the Black Community.
Sometimes things unusually classified as generosity, like tithing, can actually be forced. Although giving should be done out of a generous heart, occasionally it is done from a sense of duty. This idea occurs at the First Purchase church in Maycomb County. The pastor at the church decides to collect an offering to give to Helen Robinson, whose husband is in jail, to help support her and her kids. After everyone in the church goes up to the alter and drops in their tithe, the pastor counts the money and decides it is not enough, and they will need to collect at least ten dollars. “Reverend Sykes waved his hand and called to someone in the back of the church. ‘Alec, shut the doors. Nobody leaves here till we have ten dollars.” This situation forces everyone in a very awkward way to give more, even when they do not want to. Nobody should give this way as it destroys the true spirit of giving. …show more content…
When someone does something for another sometimes one will give something in return. In the book, the whole black community feels so grateful to Atticus Finch for defending Tom Robinson, that they collectively give him a large assortment of food. This extremely generous gesture surprised Atticus very much and filled his eyes with tears and rendered him speechless for a moment. He was shocked that despite being so poor, the black people were so thankful that they sacrificed their well-being to thank Atticus. “Atticus’ eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment.” He was surprised that even though some people may not have much, they will still make sacrifices to thank
Sometimes things unusually classified as generosity, like tithing, can actually be forced. Although giving should be done out of a generous heart, occasionally it is done from a sense of duty. This idea occurs at the First Purchase church in Maycomb County. The pastor at the church decides to collect an offering to give to Helen Robinson, whose husband is in jail, to help support her and her kids. After everyone in the church goes up to the alter and drops in their tithe, the pastor counts the money and decides it is not enough, and they will need to collect at least ten dollars. “Reverend Sykes waved his hand and called to someone in the back of the church. ‘Alec, shut the doors. Nobody leaves here till we have ten dollars.” This situation forces everyone in a very awkward way to give more, even when they do not want to. Nobody should give this way as it destroys the true spirit of giving. …show more content…
When someone does something for another sometimes one will give something in return. In the book, the whole black community feels so grateful to Atticus Finch for defending Tom Robinson, that they collectively give him a large assortment of food. This extremely generous gesture surprised Atticus very much and filled his eyes with tears and rendered him speechless for a moment. He was shocked that despite being so poor, the black people were so thankful that they sacrificed their well-being to thank Atticus. “Atticus’ eyes filled with tears. He did not speak for a moment.” He was surprised that even though some people may not have much, they will still make sacrifices to thank