How is Scout compassionate in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Overall, compassion is not one of Scout Finch's primary character traits. She tends to be self-righteous and to focus on her family. However, over the course of the novel, Scout develops a stronger sense of compassion. We see this through her attitudes toward Calpurnia, the Robinson family, and Arthur (Boo) Radley.
Scout has taken Calpurnia for granted. When Atticus goes out of town, the housekeeper takes the Finch children to church in her African American community. Scout suddenly sees that Calpurnia is a real person with a real life, and she later asks her father if they can visit her at home.
After viewing the trial, Scout gains some understanding of the biased justice system. She and her brother are dismayed at the conviction and death sentence. When Tom is imprisoned and then shot, she is concerned about his family.
The biggest change in her behavior toward others comes in her attitude toward Arthur Radley. It was virtually impossible for an extroverted, competitive child like Scout to understand why anyone might be a recluse. When she starts to wonder about his life, she moves from seeing him as some phantasm to flesh and blood, but she imagines him a victim. It is only after he shows he is a hero and that he values her and her brother that she can be fully compassionate and realizes what a huge effort it took for him to leave his house, save them, and then visit her house.

Scout follows in her father's footsteps by demonstrating compassion at various times throughout the novel. Scout demonstrates compassion on her first day of school when she speaks on Walter Cunningham Jr.'s behalf because he is too shy to explain why he refuses to accept Miss Caroline's quarter. One of Scout's most significant life lessons takes place following her rough first day of school when Atticus teaches her the importance of exercising perspective. Scout listens to her father and begins to exercise perspective, which makes her a more sympathetic, compassionate individual. Scout also demonstrates compassion by leaving Jem alone for an entire week after he returns home late from the Radley yard following their nighttime raid. During the Tom Robinson trial, Scout has compassion for Mayella Ewell by feeling sorry for her because she has no friends and lives a rough life. Scout also has compassion for Tom Robinson and his family following his wrongful conviction. Towards the end of the novel, Scout once again demonstrates compassion by sympathizing with Boo Radley and agreeing with Sheriff Tate's decision not to inform the community about his heroics.