There’s Something About Empathy Since I was young I’d always fantasize about living in the 1900’s; growing up with milk shake shops, jukeboxes, and poodle skirts sounded fascinating. However, after having read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, it made me realize some things aren’t always what they seem. I was forced to face the tragic reality of the 1900’s. A little girl named Scout shares her experiences from growing up during the 1920’s, in Maycomb County, Alabama. Scout and her family find themselves facing many challenges due to the fact that majority of the population were prejudiced during that time period. This caused Scout and her brother, Jem, to face real world problems and grow up rather quickly. In To Kill A Mockingbird, through
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Dubose; Arthur Radley; and Tom Robinson. Jem and Scout thought nothing more of Mrs. Dubose, but a grumpy old lady. One day Mrs. Dubose yells something bad about Atticus, upsetting Jem. Jem, taken over by anger, destroys her flower beds. When Atticus finds out he insists that Jem and Scout to read to Mrs. Dubose. After many visits to Mrs. Dubose, Jem realizes she wasn't just a mean old lady, but a strong and courageous lady who just wanted to die without drugs in her system, this shows how Jem had to actually get to know Mrs. Dubose before he understood her and the reason why she acted the way she did. Further in the book, Jem had been thinking about Tom’s trial and how much people suck. He started to gain an understanding of Boo and tells Scout “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up, it’s because he wants to stay inside.” Finally, after Tom Robinson’s trial is over, Jem is really upset and confused about the jury’s guilty-verdict. He doesn’t understand how people are okay with ruining another person's life and family’s life just because they’re black. Harper Lee is showing just how much having empathy for someone can effect a person, it can change your whole outlook on the
Dubose; Arthur Radley; and Tom Robinson. Jem and Scout thought nothing more of Mrs. Dubose, but a grumpy old lady. One day Mrs. Dubose yells something bad about Atticus, upsetting Jem. Jem, taken over by anger, destroys her flower beds. When Atticus finds out he insists that Jem and Scout to read to Mrs. Dubose. After many visits to Mrs. Dubose, Jem realizes she wasn't just a mean old lady, but a strong and courageous lady who just wanted to die without drugs in her system, this shows how Jem had to actually get to know Mrs. Dubose before he understood her and the reason why she acted the way she did. Further in the book, Jem had been thinking about Tom’s trial and how much people suck. He started to gain an understanding of Boo and tells Scout “I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up, it’s because he wants to stay inside.” Finally, after Tom Robinson’s trial is over, Jem is really upset and confused about the jury’s guilty-verdict. He doesn’t understand how people are okay with ruining another person's life and family’s life just because they’re black. Harper Lee is showing just how much having empathy for someone can effect a person, it can change your whole outlook on the