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Keeping in mind the dual narratives in the story, what are some ways and examples that Scout's views on other characters change from beginning to...

In the early part of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus instructs Scout that to understand a person, she must put herself in the "skin" of the other and walk around in it. Scout learns to understand several people by vicariously sharing their experiences during the course of this novel.


  • Mrs. Dubose

Scout narrates that she and Jem hate Mrs. Dubose. As it is impossible to go to town without passing her house, they are forced to undergo "her wrathful gaze" and derogatory comments. Finally, Jem becomes so incensed by her insults that he damages her camellias; consequently, Jem must read to her for a month as punishment. As he does so, Scout describes Mrs. Dubose as horrible: "Cords of saliva would collect on her lips; she would draw them in, then open her mouth again."
After the month is served, Atticus tells the children that Mrs. Dubose has died, but she was conscious up to the end because she had taken herself off the morphine to which she was addicted. It is then that Scout realizes the reasons for Mrs. Dubose's vitriolic outbursts, and she recalls that the old, grumbling woman suffered quietly and faced death bravely. 
Atticus tells the children that real courage is



...when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.



  • Mr. Dolphus Raymond

When Dill is upset at the manner in which Mr. Gilmer interrogates Tom Robinson in the courtroom, Scout and Jem accompany the sensitive Dill outside. There, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, whom Scout calls "an evil man," beckons Dill to take some of his drink that is inside a paper bag. Scout is horrified that he is offering whiskey, but Dill consoles her, "Scout, it's nothing but Coca-Cola." 


Mr. Raymond chuckles and explains why he pretends to be an alcoholic. If he is believed to be a drunkard, the citizens of Maycomb have an acceptable reason for his behavior. They can say, then, "He can't help himself, that's why he lives the way he does." 
After he consoles Dill some, Mr. Raymond leaves the children, who return to the courtroom. Afterwards, Scout has changed her opinion of the man who humbles himself so that the people of Maycomb can feel better: "I had never encountered a being who deliberately perpetrated fraud against himself."


  • Tom Robinson

When Scout accompanies Dill outside the courthouse, Dill complains that Mr. Gilmer has no need to talk "so hateful to him [Tom Robinson]." Scout remarks, "Well, Dill, after all he's just a Negro."
However, Scout changes her opinion of Tom as she listens more in the trial. Rather than call Mayella a liar, Tom says that "she was mistaken in her mind," and he is very polite. 
Scout begins to sympathize with him as she realizes that Tom is absolutely innocent of any charges. Instead, it is he who is the victim, as Atticus points out in his closing remarks. 


  • Aunt Alexandra

When Aunt Alexandra first arrives, Scout pictures herself living in a "pink penitentiary" as Atticus tells her that her aunt wants him to remind her that she is not "run-of-the-mill people." Realizing that she can no longer wear overalls, Scout is not happy, nor does she like that she cannot go again with Calpurnia to church.


However, Scout changes her mind about her aunt at the Missionary Tea in which she is constrained to wear a dress. After listening to the praises of J. Grimes Everett for his missionary work in Africa, Mrs. Merriweather thinks nothing of negatively criticizing Atticus's work with an African-American, and audaciously does so in his own house:



"I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided...some of'em in this town thought they were doing the right thing...but all they did was stir 'em up."



This audacity of a guest disturbs Aunt Alexandra greatly. Further, after learning that Tom has been shot, Alexandra is really shaken. But, Scout helps her aunt as she passes a tray of cookies.



With my best company manners, I asked her [Mrs. Merriweather] if she would have some. After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I.



  • Boo Radley

Having believed Boo was a "haint" and a malevolent spirit, Scout comes to realize what a gentle and kind man Arthur Radley really is. Despite the schemes of Jem and Dill, Boo has extended kindness to the children, such as mending Jem's torn pants, placing carved soap figures of Jem and Scout in the hole of a tree, and, of course, saving the children from the deadly knife of Bob Ewell.


When Scout meets Boo in the flesh on the night of Ewell's murder attempt, she realizes what a fragile creature he is. For Boo has a "railing cough" and he shuns the light, hiding in the shadows of the rooms. But, the hand that Scout holds is warm, and she leads him to Jem's room where he can see that the doctor has him lying comfortably. When Boo softly asks her to take him home, Scout takes his arm and together in the dark they give the appearance of a gentleman escorting a lady. After Boo goes inside, he quietly shuts the door. "I never saw him again," Scout narrates.


Scout reflects that Boo has given them several gifts, but she and Jem have given him nothing. Standing on the porch, Scout looks across at her house and recalls,



Atticus was right.... you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.



She now knows that Arthur Radley is a gentle and fragile person, and a real friend. She tells her father, "Atticus, he was real nice..." Her father assures her, "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."  

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