Harper Lee uses Scout and Jem’s innocence fading away as they grow up to show the perspectives of different people and what Maycomb really is. This concept was shown by a variety of people that come into Scout and Jem’s life in Maycomb. Atticus gave Scout an incredible pep talk when Scout was bashing Walter Cunningham at the Finch household, “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.” Scout at this point seemed to be too young to understand the different perspectives of people and where they come from, it seems to be that Atticus wants her to gain some sympathy for where Walter comes from and for her to respect him for who he is. Walter’s perspective in life isn’t to be all proper, and use things correctly, he comes from a different place, and has a different past. Atticus wants Scout to understand what it is like to be in other people’s shoes sometimes and that people in life do not know what someone else is going through and that brings Scout to her maturity stages where …show more content…
Dubose, the grouchy old lady as it seemed to Jem and Scout, in fact had an unexpected story that the both of them had no clue about. This is where the understanding of perspective enters their life once Atticus explains to them. “Jem and I hated her. If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing.” Scout always had a negative vibe come from Mrs. Dubose until it is learned that Mrs. Dubose is a morphine addict. The symbolism in this is maturity and the understanding of perspective, Mrs. Dubose was in a tough stage in her life. Scout and Jem really didn’t understand as they are so young, but maturity comes into play when they eventually understand the past lives of others and what they view in