How and when does Scout show empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The lesson Scout learns from Atticus to respect people and to try to see life from their perspective is seen through Scout’s interaction and understanding of several characters in the rest of the novel.  First of all, she has an immediate understanding about Walter Cunningham when she says “hey” to Mr. Cunningham at the courthouse where Atticus is protecting Tom Robinson from the lynch mob.  She has put her prejudices aside and asks Mr. Cunningham...

The lesson Scout learns from Atticus to respect people and to try to see life from their perspective is seen through Scout’s interaction and understanding of several characters in the rest of the novel.  First of all, she has an immediate understanding about Walter Cunningham when she says “hey” to Mr. Cunningham at the courthouse where Atticus is protecting Tom Robinson from the lynch mob.  She has put her prejudices aside and asks Mr. Cunningham to tell Walter hello.  This shows that Scout has taken Atticus’ lesson to heart.  Scout also learns to sympathize with Mayella Ewell's horrible situation and existence.  During Mayella’s testimony about her alleged rape by Tom Robinson, Scout listens intently to Mayella and comes to the conclusion that she must be the “loneliest person in the world.”  She doesn’t have any friends and spends her time taking care of her brothers and sisters.  Mayella doesn’t even know that it is polite for Atticus to call her, “M’am”.  She is so isolated in the cabin next to the dump that she leads a helpless, lonely existence afraid of her own father.  Scout’s ability to understand this simply by listening to Mayella’s testimony shows just how much Scout has learned Atticus’ lesson and how she practices it.