What do they learn from their experience?

It's also worth considering how Jem and Scout learn about the broader inequalities of their community during the course of the novel. In addition to the inequalities inherent in the racism central to the Tom Robinson trial, Jem and Scout also learn about the realities of social inequality in general. Indeed, as the book progresses, the two children gradually realize that their community is distinctly divided into the "haves" and the "have-nots." For instance, while the Finch family is not wealthy by any means, they come from an old, respected family that used to be much wealthier, and so they still occupy a relatively privileged position in Maycomb (and don't forget that as a lawyer, Atticus would have been seen as an important person in the town's social hierarchy). In contrast to the relatively privileged Finch family, Bob Ewell and his children are downright impoverished, subsisting in squalor and filth. Likewise, there is Walter Cunningham, one of the poorest boys in school whose inability to afford a lunch marks a strong contrast to Scout's ability to go home for a solid meal each day. Thus, in addition to learning about racial inequalities, Jem and Scout also learn about the social/economic inequalities that divide their town. This lesson is one of the many ways that the Finch children's innocence gradually gives way to a more mature outlook on life.

Throughout the novel, Jem and Scout learn a variety of important lessons from Atticus and their experiences growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Both children learn the importance of protecting innocent beings, as when Atticus tells them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, and the definition of "real courage" from their experiences with Mrs. Dubose. The children also learn what mob mentality is after the Old Sarum bunch attempts to lynch Tom Robinson in chapter 15. Toward the beginning of the story, Scout also learns the importance of controlling her temper and maintaining perspective from her experiences with Miss Caroline. However, the most significant lesson Jem and Scout learn throughout the novel concerns the prejudiced nature of their community. After witnessing racial injustice for the first time during the Tom Robinson trial, Jem and Scout both become aware of the overt prejudice throughout their community. Both siblings begin to recognize the racist nature of Maycomb and notice the hypocrisy throughout their community following the Tom Robinson trial.