Would you rather read a boring novel that contains static characters or would you like to read one that takes you on a journey through the life of a dynamic character? In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout's personality changes greatly as she matures and learns more about life. This novel is set in the 1930s in a typical Southern society. Once Atticus chooses to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, Scout faces many challenges and discovers numerous facts about life. Over the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird Scout grows and learns that one should not be prejudiced against others, the true meaning of courage, and that it is wrong to harm the innocent and kind. At the conclusion of the novel, Scout realizes that you shouldn't be prejudiced against anyone. After Scout beat him, Jem invited Walter Cunningham to their house for lunch. As they ate, he put molasses all over the meat and vegetables. Immediately, Scout became indignant and criticized him. In this act he was prejudiced because he quickly condoned his actions without thinking about the situation from his point of view. Walter's family is poor and he can barely eat, so he behaved this way. Atticus tells her his misdeeds and says this: “You never truly understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you get under his skin and walk in it (30).” Atticus tells Scout that pre-judging someone is wrong and that to truly profile someone and understand their actions you have to look at their life from their point of view. Furthermore, white citizens are prejudiced against Tom Robinson. They see that he is black and automatically assume that he is guilty. They pre-judge him and don't even care about the evidence Atticus presents. They also don't take Tom's testimony into account; they have already decided on the verdict. Scout sees how Tom's guilt affects Jem; Jem is in tears and can't believe this happened. Scout sees that prejudice is wrong because it caused Tom (an innocent man) to be convicted and ultimately killed. Scout discovers that prejudice is wrong because it harms people and hurts them emotionally. Through Atticus' teachings Scout understands what courage truly is. Atticus said that Mrs. Dubose was the bravest person he had ever known because of what she did before she died.