Nick S' Blog

Kindness and compassion are the true measure of a person’s worth in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird.  When Atticus sticks up for Tom Robinson (An African American living in Maycomb) he really shows his true colors.  During the court case Atticus argues with Heck Tate (Maycomb Sheriff) about the fact that nobody called a doctor for Mayella.  But when Atticus calls Mayella to be testified, another set of Atticus’s compassion for the truth comes out.  He almost gets Mayella to reveal what really happened to her (179).  Atticus’s compassion for the truth is unbelievable in the case of Tom Robinson.  As Atticus walked out the door of the court house when the jury started saying “Guilty”, Tom’s supporters stood up for Atticus as he left.  This showed how Atticus was respected.  His kindness was also a huge part in Maycomb’s everyday life   Jem, Scout and almost anybody know that they can go to Atticus for help or just someone to talk to.   As Scout narrates through the story you can always tell that she talks highly of her dad.  Even though the only time she really gets to see him is at night when he is reading the paper, she talks about him like he is always with her.  Atticus’ compassion for his children is almost greater than the compassion for his work.  He would and will do anything to help and protect his children.  Atticus is probably the most basic and simple man in the book to understand.  But when you start to realize how big his compassion and kindness is towards others you begin to realize that he is the perfect person.

Jem’s interaction with Mrs. Dubose teaches him what real courage is in many ways.  Everybody in the small town of Maycomb knew that Mrs. Dubose had her own, very distinct personality.  But when Jem cut down Mrs. Dubose’s flowers with Scout’s new baton he knew instantly that he had done the wrong thing.  When Atticus finds out and gives Jem his punishment, Jem gets mad.  Jem did not see why he would have to read to Mr. Dubose every day after school.  Atticus knew that she always is saying the wrong things to Scout about the way she acts and the way that she dresses.  But it turns out that reading to Mrs. Dubose helped Jem change a lot.  When Jem started to read to her after school he was only there a sort time.  But as the days and weeks went on each day he read to her, he read longer.  When Mrs. Dubose would lie in her bed all covered up and listen to Jem read she would lay there so that he could only see her head and hands.  He was realizing that something was wrong.  When he would read to Mrs. Dubose she was not crabby towards him, she just lied there and listened.  All she would say to him was when to stop and when to go home.  But when Jem goes home one day to Atticus and finds out that Mrs. Dubose had died, Jem was sad.  He did not admit to it but when he started asking questions about her you could tell.  Atticus tells Jem about how she was a morphine addict and how she used it for years as a pain killer (111).  Jem learned that she “wanted to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody”.  He was confused and Atticus told him how when you are that sick, you take anything that will make it easier and better.  When Jem asked if she died free, he knew that he was sad and that the only memory that he has now besides reading to her, was her candy box.  Jem threw it in the fire (112).  Through reading to Mrs. Dubose he knew that he could handle both emotional situations and that he now has a different view not only the elderly but the people that most people avoid.