The quotation you mention is probably the most important
in the novel, along with the line that includes "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." The
quote you mention is spoken by Atticus following Scout's disastrous first day at school.
Scout has just told Atticus that she doesn't want to go back to school, what with all
the problems she had: being punished by Miss Caroline, fighting with Walter Cunningham
Jr., and then being scolded by Calpurnia. Atticus' suggestion to first climb into the
other person's skin is a request for Scout to consider every individual's viewpoint
before making a quick judgement.
Scout doesn't forget
Atticus' advice. At the end of the novel, Scout stands on the Radley porch, pretending
that she is standing in the shoes of Boo Radley. From this viewpoint, Scout sees her
neighborhood from a different perspective--this time from the eyes of Boo. Things look
differently to her this way, and she understands that Boo--Arthur--was just another
neighbor observing the world around him.
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