How does Scout mature by her understanding of the Tom Robinson case in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Before
witnessing the Tom Robinson trial,knows little of the overt prejudice throughout her community
and does not fully comprehend the details regarding Tom's case. As Scout watches Heck Tate, Bob
Ewell, Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson testify, she gains perspective on the lives of those
involved in the case and understands Tom's predicament. Scout observes the malevolent nature of
Bob Ewell, Mayella's loneliness, and Tom's honesty. Following the verdict, Scout witnesses
racial injustice firsthand and loses her childhood innocence.

Following Tom's
conviction, Scout becomes more aware of the prejudice and hypocrisy throughout her community.
During Aunt Alexandra's missionary circle, Scout notices Mrs. Merriweather's hypocrisy and
questions Miss Gates's perspective regarding prejudice in America. Scout also becomes more
intuitive regarding the motivation of her prejudiced neighbors and fully grasps the significance
of her father's defense of Tom Robinson.

Unlike , who becomes jaded with the
citizens of Maycomb, Scout becomes increasingly tolerant and understands the inherent racism
throughout her hometown. Scout also learns the importance of protecting innocent beings from
watchingdefend Tom. Towards the end of the novel, Scout metaphorically applies Atticus's lesson
about not killing mockingbirds, which symbolically represent any innocent, defenseless
person.