What is the effect this quote from To Kill a Mockingbird on the reader? "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his...

Atticus tells Scout that you never really understand someone until you see things from that person’s point of view. This is because Scout has been having a hard time learning empathy. The effect of this conversation is to help the reader understand some of the characters in the book, and add to our understanding of Atticus’s personality.

When Scout goes to school, she has a difficult time. She does not understand her new teacher. The...

Atticus tells Scout that you never really understand someone until you see things from that person’s point of view. This is because Scout has been having a hard time learning empathy. The effect of this conversation is to help the reader understand some of the characters in the book, and add to our understanding of Atticus’s personality.

When Scout goes to school, she has a difficult time. She does not understand her new teacher. The teacher does not try to get to know her students, and punishes Scout on the first day.

Scout first catches the teacher’s attention because she can read and write. Then she gets her ire up by trying to give her advice.

If I could have explained these things to Miss Caroline, I would have saved myself some inconvenience and Miss Caroline subsequent mortification, but it was beyond my ability to explain things as well as Atticus, so I said, “You’re shamin‘ him, Miss Caroline. Walter hasn’t got a quarter at home to bring you, and you can’t use any stovewood.”(Ch. 2)

Miss Caroline whips Scout with a ruler for talking too much.  This and the fact that the teacher told Scout not to read with her father caused her to not want to go to school. This is why Scout got the lecture about thinking about other people’s perspectives.

The fact that Atticus is able to explain to Scout how Miss Caroline feels helps the reader understand that Atticus is an empathetic and compassionate father. Scout is going to need the skill of empathy as well during the difficult period that will be coming with the trial of Tom Robinson. Atticus can understand how people feel, and is well-respected in the community normally. He will be able to handle the heat that comes with the trial, and he is trying to make sure his children can too.