Mrs. Dubose is a neighbor who lives on the same street as the Finch family. When Jem and Scout walk by her house, Mrs. Dubose shouts insults from her front porch. One day, Jem goes home angry after a series of insults from Mrs. Dubose. His father tells Jem to...
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calm down and consider Mrs. Dubose.
She's an old lady and she's ill. You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it's your job not to let her make you mad (Chapter 11).
When Scout and Jem walk with their father, he greets Mrs. Dubose as they pass her house. He takes off his hat and greets her with a compliment. Â
After Jem chops up Mrs. Dubose's camellias with Scout's baton, Atticus admonishes him. He tells his son that "to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable." He recommends Jem apologize to her.
Atticus shows empathy toward Mrs. Dubose. She is a sick woman with a morphine addiction. Though she says unkind things about him, he shows her compassion. He also wants his children to show her compassion. Atticus tolerates Mrs. Dubose and her cantankerous ways because he sees her as a human being in need of compassion instead of a cranky old lady. He ignores the unkind things she says to him. He always treats her with respect and friendliness, no matter what she says.