In the online dictionary compassion is defined as "a feeling of [sorrow] for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering" (www.dictionary.reference.com). Through her character, Atticus Finch, Harper Lee displayed many acts of compassion in her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird . Atticus showed compassion to Mrs. Dubose, Tom Robinson, Mayella Ewell, and Boo Radley.
Showing compassion to Mrs. Dubose, Atticus said to Jem, "She 's an old lady and she 's ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentlemen." (Lee, page 100). This is an example of compassion to Mrs. Dubose because Atticus was telling Jem to be a gentlemen to her because he knows that she is not well, and he does not want to cause her any more harm. Mrs. Dubose was incredibly sick. Although she called him a "nigger-lover", he continually showed respect to her, possessing the …show more content…
"Atticus raised his head. "Do you want to tell us what happened?"" (Lee, Page 188). He feels sorry for her and wants to alleviate her suffering by proving that Tom Robinson didn 't actually attack her and that it was her father. At the beginning of the trial, Atticus was trying to paint a dire picture of her life to the jury as to prove that she was poor and lonely and would do anything to protect her father, even if that meant putting an innocent man in jail. At the end of the trial, Atticus blatantly stated that Mayella “tempted a Negro” (Lee, page 203), and that “Tom Robinson was her daily reminder of what she did,” (Lee, page 203). In an attempt to alleviate her suffering by allowing her to confess to what she had actually done, Atticus demonstrated his compassion for her. He also is willing to allow Bob Ewell to spit in his face with chewing tobacco, push him, and tell him that he 's going to get him if that meant that Mayella would get one less beating. Atticus says that this was Bob 's way of
Showing compassion to Mrs. Dubose, Atticus said to Jem, "She 's an old lady and she 's ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentlemen." (Lee, page 100). This is an example of compassion to Mrs. Dubose because Atticus was telling Jem to be a gentlemen to her because he knows that she is not well, and he does not want to cause her any more harm. Mrs. Dubose was incredibly sick. Although she called him a "nigger-lover", he continually showed respect to her, possessing the …show more content…
"Atticus raised his head. "Do you want to tell us what happened?"" (Lee, Page 188). He feels sorry for her and wants to alleviate her suffering by proving that Tom Robinson didn 't actually attack her and that it was her father. At the beginning of the trial, Atticus was trying to paint a dire picture of her life to the jury as to prove that she was poor and lonely and would do anything to protect her father, even if that meant putting an innocent man in jail. At the end of the trial, Atticus blatantly stated that Mayella “tempted a Negro” (Lee, page 203), and that “Tom Robinson was her daily reminder of what she did,” (Lee, page 203). In an attempt to alleviate her suffering by allowing her to confess to what she had actually done, Atticus demonstrated his compassion for her. He also is willing to allow Bob Ewell to spit in his face with chewing tobacco, push him, and tell him that he 's going to get him if that meant that Mayella would get one less beating. Atticus says that this was Bob 's way of