Over the course of the novel, Scout and Jem come to understand that people cannot be easily categorized as good or evil. Initially, Scout and Jem naively assume that most of the people in Maycomb are objectively “good.” This assumption is soon challenged, however, by the racism and hypocrisy they witness during Tom Robinson’s trial. With Atticus's help, Scout and Jem come to learn that while the people around them aren't perfectly moral, it does not then follow that these people are irredeemably “evil.” Mrs. Dubose, “the meanest old woman who ever lived,” regularly yells abuse at Jem and Scout as they walk by her house. It is only after her death that they learn that she was struggling to overcome a morphine addiction, determined to die on her own terms. The revelation of Mrs. Dubose’s unexpected bravery leaves Jem and Scout more empathetic and slower to judge those around them.

From the very beginning, Atticus works to convince Scout of the potential for good in people—despite their “blind spots.” His optimism proves correct when Scout is able to successfully dispel a lynch mob by making innocent small talk with its leader. These teachings ultimately shape Scout’s perspective, allowing her to adopt a more nuanced view of those around her. This personal transformation is evident in Scout's observations of Mayella Ewell at the trial. Though she believes that Mayella’s actions are reprehensible, Scout is also able to recognize that Mayella Ewell has lived a hard, sad life: “Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world.” Scout’s heightened empathy allows her to see flawed individuals like Mayella as complex people who are worthy of human dignity and understanding despite having done terrible things. By the end of the novel, it's clear that Atticus’s teachings have successfully prepared Scout and Jem to confront the evils of mankind without losing their faith in the goodness of humanity.