How does inhabiting the various characters’ point of view provide depth to the experience of the novel?
Empathy is a trait that needs to be experienced. One has to feel the pain of somebody else before they can truly understand a different perspective. Seeing other points of view was a trade-mark of Atticus and Scout was well on her way to learning this.
A good example of this is when Scout and Jem are forced to read to Mrs. Dubose. They begin to see her as more than just a cranky hateful old lady.
The novel goes beyond exploring the disparity of class and explores the effects of race as well. Scout's tale clearly realtes a middle-class perspective, and yet even then her father warns her not to judge anyone until you've walked in the circumstances. Scout's point of view changes a bit over the course of the story because of this; she's forced to walk in the shoesw of others because she's surrounded by circumstances that she cannot control but wants to understand.
To Kill a Mockingbird
