Scout try to understand all the things Atticus says to her, for example, in the beginning Atticus tells Scout, “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”.
She often looks up to Atticus, who always displays an upright, moral response for his reactions to events. Scout always comes to terms with what Atticus teaches her and she accepts her father’s words. Atticus also teaches his children other lessons and they become mature young children with strong opinions of their own. An example of their maturity is how they view people. When Scout and Jem see how black people are treated from another point of view they begin to understand the meaning of prejudice. Scout goes to Atticus for advice when she is troubled, and Atticus talks to his children, like he is at the same level. This is because he is a kind and gentle, yet thoughtful man, and he refuses to patronise his children by talking down to them, he likes to show them that superiority is not necessary. Atticus shares a good relationship with his children, sharing his experiences with his law career. And his general life is not a secret to his children, they are generally close and he does well at being a single parent in their eyes.
Atticus looks at everyone and tries to understand who they are and where they are coming from. And he quietly and subtly passes on wisdom to his children about subjects like racism.
Calpurnia, is the Finch families, black maid and has quite an impact on the family. She has a positive female influence on Scout in the absence of her mother. Calpurnia teaches Scout many of the same lessons. Since Atticus sees Calpurnia as a member of the family, she is allowed to freely scold and lecture Scout if need be. Calpurnia teaches Scout about treating people with respect and taking time to understand others. Scout watched Cal and even sees that being a girl isn't such a bad thing. Cal, despite being black and the Finch's cook, becomes a kind of mother to Scout in many ways. Cal can be strong minded towards Scout using violence to make her listen, as Scout is very strong-headed. For example when Walter Cunningham comes for supper, Scout talks her mind; “He would probably have poured it in to his milk glass had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing. It was then that Calpurnia requested my presence in the kitchen”. Calpurnia doesn’t have much impact on Jem because his father usually deals with him.
Jem is around ten years old Jem, like Scout, is learning a code of conduct from Atticus throughout the book. And also like Scout, Jem is intelligent, yet impressionable. He is close to his sister as they are more than just siblings they are more like best friends, as the neighbourhood is so quiet. His relationship with his father, is simple, because Jem try’s to be like him but, finds it difficult, it is harder for Jem to comprehend what Atticus says because he is not as strong headed as Scout his sister. Jem shows and tells Scout most things, but sometimes keeps her in the dark, because she can get him into trouble. For an example in chapter 6, Jem returns to the Radley’s house∗ to get his trousers back. Scout doesn’t agree with the idea, and says “You do go an’ I’ll wake up Atticus”. Jem replies “You do and I’ll kill you”. Jem isn’t scared of her or what she will do because he knows for a fact that he has more control over her, he does as he pleases excluding her opinion to the matter.
Scout is strong willed, opinionated, and accepting. Although she is still young, and under the guidance of Atticus, we get an impression of what Scout will become Atticus as she gets older. She does not see the racism and double standards that the rest of the town sees. Rather, she forms a code of conduct very similar to Atticus; a code of understanding and acceptance of all human beings. Scout is not nearly as mellow as Atticus, though. She can be very outspoken and isn't afraid to challenge others whenever she sees fit, sometimes with her fists. Scout sees her brother more as a friend than a sibling because of how they have grown up, with nothing else but each other to play with. She prefers to play the role of being more of a masculine figure rather than being feminine, and that is where Calpurnia helps out immensely in this department because she plays the role of their mother. Scout doesn’t have many memories of her mother, and therefore is not as affected by her absence, unlike Jem.
In the first eight chapters of this story, the Finch family share disagreements, but they also learn from them in detail. Scout remembers, what he father tells her, and its stays with her, in other incidents. Jem is similar he learns from his sister as well as Atticus. On a whole, the Finch family becomes closer as the story goes on and they learn from their mistakes.
