At the end of Chapter 30, Sheriff Tate tells Atticus that he would consider it a crime to tell the community of Maycomb that Boo Radley saved the children because it would bring unwanted attention to Boo. Tate realizes that Boo is a very shy individual, and making him the center of the community's attention would be harmful. Sheriff Tate tells Atticus that he will tell the community that Bob Ewell fell on his own knife and died. Atticus looks down at Scout and says, "Mr. Ewell fell on his knife. Can you possibly understand?" (Lee 370). Scout tells her father that she understands and comments that Tate made the right decision. Atticus asks Scout what she means, and Scout says, "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" (Lee 370).
Scout's response indicates that she understands the importance of protecting innocent beings. Earlier in the novel, Atticus told Scout and Jem that it was a sin to shoot a mockingbird. Maudie elaborated on Atticus' lesson and commented that mockingbirds do nothing to harm anyone and simply make music for people to enjoy. Scout likens Boo's scenario to Atticus' lesson about not killing mockingbirds because she views Boo as a metaphorical "mockingbird." Scout realizes that mockingbirds symbolically represent any innocent being, and Boo Radley is in fact an innocent person who means well. Her ability to metaphorically connect Atticus' lesson to Boo's situation demonstrates her moral development and is considered a "coming of age moment" because she understands the deeper meaning attached to not killing mockingbirds.
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