Mrs. Dubose

In "To Kill a Mockingbird" Mrs Dubose came across as a sour old lady, who went out of her way to cause Jem and Scout trouble. Later in the book, it becomes clear that Mrs Dubose was struggling with a pain killer addiction, and at the same time was coming to grips with the fact that she was slowly dying. This probably caused her to become bitter, and instead of venting all this pent up emotion on someting inanimate, such as preparing a big dinner, or cleaning the house, she chose to let it out on those around her. Jem and Scout happened to be two such vicyims, but as they were so young at the time, it would be very hard for them to understand why she was saying and doing what she did. This is one other example of the advice that Atticus gives the children "before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes".