IndexIntroductionThe Role of Kindness in Killing a HedgehogInternal Conflict in Killing a HedgehogConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionIf everyone respected people's different worldviews and were kind to each other , the world would be a much more peaceful place and you wouldn't see people treating others wrongly, this idea is often portrayed in literature. In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem changes the way he looks at someone's character because of the incident with Mrs. Dubose. This highlights the novel's exploration of the transformative power of kindness in the face of conflict in To Kill a Mockingbird. There are many ways that Lee plays the role of kindness in his novel, most of which are through the lessons that Scout and Jem learn throughout the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Role of Kindness in To Kill a Mockingbird Every day when Jem and Scout walked home from school, they had to pass Mrs. Dubose's house, there was no other way around it. Whenever they passed by, she was sitting on the porch and never failed to yell something rude at them, whether it was the way Scout dressed and acted or criticizing the way Atticus had raised his children. They had become so used to it that they learned to ignore it. But recently, since the father took over the Tom Robinson case, Ms. Dubose has not only criticized the children but also the father, calling him things like an "n-lover" and a disgrace to the community. Jem did his best to keep his thoughts to himself, he didn't care what people said about him, but when they attacked his father, he felt the need to defend him because he respected Atticus and wanted everyone else to realize that his their father was doing the right thing and they should learn from him. Instead, Jem kept his mouth shut because those were Atticus' orders. Although he tried his best, he eventually lost his temper, one day on their way home from town, Mrs. Dubose wasn't out on the porch, so Jem decided to take the baton he had just bought Scout and ruin her "snow on the mountain,” then broke the stick in two, handed it back to Scout, and without saying a word, they continued on their way home. Internal Conflict in To Kill a Mockingbird Although Jem has to go to Mrs. Dubose's house as punishment, the outcome of the punishment had a great effect on Jem. As it turns out, the obnoxious old lady has a different side than initially thought. Although he initially seemed like a rude person on the outside, he actually has a lot of courage on the inside. Jem learns from his encounter with Mrs. Dubose that there is much more to people than what they show on the surface. He also learns the value of self-control. Mrs. Dubose is rude and is very critical of Atticus' defense of Tom Robinson and the way he raises his children. When Atticus learns of the trouble Jem has caused Mrs. Dubose, he is punished by being forced to read to her every day. During this time, Jem must learn to control his emotions and be kind to the old lady. By learning to control his emotions and show kindness even though he may not want to, Jem is showing a change in character and taking responsibility. In this way, Jem discovers that Mrs. Dubose's kindness has been taken away from her due to the many difficulties she has faced in her life, such as an addiction to morphine. Please note: this is just an example. Get a document now, 2006