What are the differences and similarities between Atticus and Mrs. Dubose throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Although neighbors, Atticus Finch and Mrs. Dubose are distinctly different.

While Atticus always finds a way to understand other people--"he "climb[s] into [their] skin and walk[s] around in it"--and encourages others with kind words, Mrs. Dubose seems to seize any opportunity to insult. 

Because she lives just two doors down, Scout and Jem must pass her house whenever they go to the business section of Maycomb, and Scout dreads doing so:

If she were on...

Although neighbors, Atticus Finch and Mrs. Dubose are distinctly different.

While Atticus always finds a way to understand other people--"he "climb[s] into [their] skin and walk[s] around in it"--and encourages others with kind words, Mrs. Dubose seems to seize any opportunity to insult. 

Because she lives just two doors down, Scout and Jem must pass her house whenever they go to the business section of Maycomb, and Scout dreads doing so:

If she were on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction of what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing.... We could do nothing to please her. (Ch.11)

Unlike Mrs. Dubose, Atticus focuses upon the positive aspects of a person, and he encourages his children to be kind. For instance, after Jem complains about all the insults hurled at him by Mrs. Dubose, Atticus tells Jem:

"Jem, she's old and ill. You can't hold her responsible for what she says and does." (Ch.11)

Another difference between Atticus and Mrs. Dubose is that she believes in the traditions of the Old South, while Atticus is non-traditional in allowing his children to call him by his first name, something that makes Mrs. Dubose "apoplectic." Mrs. Dubose finds most offensive Atticus's acceptance of the role of defense attorney for Tom Robinson. She hurls one invective after another at Atticus for defending a black man.

Despite all these differences, Mrs. Dubose and Atticus Finch share the value of being an individual who lives and dies by a set of principles. For instance, neither believe in lying and they insist upon maintaining their integrity. Constantly, Mrs. Dubose accuses the children of not telling her the truth: "Don't you lie to me!" Later, in the penultimate chapter of the narrative, Atticus verbally wrestles with allowing Sheriff Tate to place the blame for Bob Ewell's death on Ewell himself, rather than upon Jem, who Atticus mistakenly believes is responsible.

In another instance, Mrs. Dubose, having broken her dependency upon morphine, dies on her own terms, while Atticus accepts his role as attorney for Tom Robinson and conscientiously defends him.