As we grow older and become more mature, we learn lessons that help us to become better people. A particularly important lesson is learning how to put yourself in other people's position's so that you can understand their feelings and actions. Scout learns this lesson in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird. As the novel progresses, through teaching, time, and experience, Scout learns how to put herself in someone else's place and see things from their point of view.
At the beginning of the novel it is evident that Scout does not see things from other people's points of view. She is not very tactful with her words and has a hard time placing herself in other people's positions. In chapter 2 Miss Caroline questions Walter Cunningham about not having a lunch. She offers him a quarter to buy lunch and doesn't understand when Walter won't accept it because he won't be able to pay her back. Scout, promptly tries to explain. " "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham" "What Jean Louise?" I thought I had made things sufficiently clear. It was clear enough for the rest of us" (20). Scout is not taking into account the fact that Miss. Caroline is new to town and will take a while to get to know everyone. If Scout had put herself in Miss Caroline and perhaps Walter's place she would not have been so abrupt in informing her of the stereotype about the Cunningham family.
Scout needs to learn the important lesson of viewing things from someone else's perspective. Atticus recognizes this and talks to her about it on page 30. " "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you"ll get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."" .
It takes Scout some time to learn this lesson. As the novel progresses, she learns more about seeing things from the other persons perspective through reminders and experiences.