A person loses twenty dollars on the street, and another person picks it up for them. This may be seen as a simple act of kindness, but that twenty dollars could have been all the money that person had. In a way, the person who found the money is a hero for the person who lost the money, so their kind act becomes a heroic one. That person's kindness could be thought of as compassion because the sympathy they felt for the person who lost that dollar allowed them to pick up that dollar and return it. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses characterization to demonstrate heroism through the compassion of the characters, Jem, Miss Maudie, Mr. Link Deas, and Tom Robinson. Jem is a heroic character because he expresses his compassion for a fellow
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Jem becomes deeply upset after Atticus loses a case. Miss Maudie sees that Jem is upset, so she offers to make him cake, and gives him a larger piece than usual (Lee 288). As explained before, this type of situation can be seen as an act of compassion, but for Jem it could mean more. He could have seen it as an act of heroism because without Miss Maudie acting on her concern, he would not have been “saved” from an awful feeling. A hero does not have to save a person from a physical danger; they can rescue a person from a feeling, a feeling that could lead to physical danger later. Similar to Jem, Aunt Alexandra also becomes upset because of Atticus. Atticus gathers Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra, Scout, and Calpurnia in the kitchen to tell of Tom Robinson’s death, then he departs to tell Tom’s wife, leaving Aunt Alexandra troubled and worried for her brother. While Aunt Alexandra is lost in her worries, Miss Maudie tells her, “‘Get up, Alexandra, we’ve left ‘em long enough,’” because they have to return to Aunt Alexandra’s party (Lee 317). Miss Maudie staying with Aunt Alexandra after Atticus leaves, displays her concern for Aunt Alexandra because even though she did not need to stay with her, she still did. Also, Miss Maudie’s dialogue shows a tough tone to her concern, which she uses to order Aunt Alexandra to fix herself, so she can be …show more content…
Link Deas and Tom Robinson express their compassion for a race different from theirs which reveals their heroism. Mr. Link Deas and Tom being compassionate to another race different from theirs is significant because To Kill a Mockingbird was written during the 1930’s, a time of segregation. During which time, Tom is imprisoned, and his wife, a black woman, needs a job to take care of the family. Mr. Link, Tom’s employer and a white man, creates a job for her, even though “...[he] didn’t really need her…” (Lee 333). By providing Tom’s wife with a job, Mr. Link expresses his sympathy and concern for her, and to emphasize his kindness, he hires an unneeded employee, Tom’s wife. Mr. Link’s compassionate act saved Tom’s wife and children from starving, since his compassionate act saved someone; it is also considered a heroic act. Tom Robinson’s situation is the opposite. He, a black man, helps a white woman, Mayella. When Mayella stops Tom on his way to work and asks him to help her chop a chiffarobe, he does it. On top of that, he refuses to accept any money from Mayella for the work he did (Lee 255). Tom did not have to to stop and assist Mayella, but he felt sympathy for her since she could not do such heavy work. Mayella also “...didn’t have no nickels to spare…”, but she still offers to pay Tom (Lee 256). However, Tom already knowing Mayella’s situation, sympathizes with her predicament and refuses to accept her money. Tom’s sympathy illustrates his compassion towards
Jem becomes deeply upset after Atticus loses a case. Miss Maudie sees that Jem is upset, so she offers to make him cake, and gives him a larger piece than usual (Lee 288). As explained before, this type of situation can be seen as an act of compassion, but for Jem it could mean more. He could have seen it as an act of heroism because without Miss Maudie acting on her concern, he would not have been “saved” from an awful feeling. A hero does not have to save a person from a physical danger; they can rescue a person from a feeling, a feeling that could lead to physical danger later. Similar to Jem, Aunt Alexandra also becomes upset because of Atticus. Atticus gathers Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra, Scout, and Calpurnia in the kitchen to tell of Tom Robinson’s death, then he departs to tell Tom’s wife, leaving Aunt Alexandra troubled and worried for her brother. While Aunt Alexandra is lost in her worries, Miss Maudie tells her, “‘Get up, Alexandra, we’ve left ‘em long enough,’” because they have to return to Aunt Alexandra’s party (Lee 317). Miss Maudie staying with Aunt Alexandra after Atticus leaves, displays her concern for Aunt Alexandra because even though she did not need to stay with her, she still did. Also, Miss Maudie’s dialogue shows a tough tone to her concern, which she uses to order Aunt Alexandra to fix herself, so she can be …show more content…
Link Deas and Tom Robinson express their compassion for a race different from theirs which reveals their heroism. Mr. Link Deas and Tom being compassionate to another race different from theirs is significant because To Kill a Mockingbird was written during the 1930’s, a time of segregation. During which time, Tom is imprisoned, and his wife, a black woman, needs a job to take care of the family. Mr. Link, Tom’s employer and a white man, creates a job for her, even though “...[he] didn’t really need her…” (Lee 333). By providing Tom’s wife with a job, Mr. Link expresses his sympathy and concern for her, and to emphasize his kindness, he hires an unneeded employee, Tom’s wife. Mr. Link’s compassionate act saved Tom’s wife and children from starving, since his compassionate act saved someone; it is also considered a heroic act. Tom Robinson’s situation is the opposite. He, a black man, helps a white woman, Mayella. When Mayella stops Tom on his way to work and asks him to help her chop a chiffarobe, he does it. On top of that, he refuses to accept any money from Mayella for the work he did (Lee 255). Tom did not have to to stop and assist Mayella, but he felt sympathy for her since she could not do such heavy work. Mayella also “...didn’t have no nickels to spare…”, but she still offers to pay Tom (Lee 256). However, Tom already knowing Mayella’s situation, sympathizes with her predicament and refuses to accept her money. Tom’s sympathy illustrates his compassion towards