Miss Maudie Atkinson
Maudie Atkinson is an often overlooked character in the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She is often described as open minded, and outspoken. She shaped the Finch children in many ways throughout their childhood. In many ways she was a moral guide to the children. She was open minded, would tell it like it is, and try not to let the world drag her down.
Miss Maudie in many ways was an open minded character. While most folks in Maycomb were of to watch the trial Miss Maudie was sad because she knew that Tom would be convicted because he was black and she knew it was wrong ( Lee 289). She also talks of how they made a steep in the right direction. Unlike most members of the county Miss Maudie sees people as people, no matter their background. When the church ladies begin complaining of colored folks being upset about the
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When Scout asks about Boo Radley instead of telling her to drop the subject she answers Scout’s questions (58). Also when Scout asks about Foot-Washers instead of sugarcoating it she gives it to her straight (59-60). When people start rolling into town for the trial she says “It’s morbid, watching a poor devil on trial for his life. Look at all those folks, it's like a Roman carnival” (213). Not only does she point out the wrongness of what people are doing. She also calls the trail what it is a fight for a man’s life.
Miss Maudie does not let the world drag her down. When Foot-Washer Baptists use scripture to criticise her life, she counters it with quoting more scripture. Not only beating them at their own game but showing that the comments would not bring her down (212-213). When her house burned down instead of being upset she just said “Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more room for my azaleas now!” (97). Instead of letting the tragedy get her down she looked for a bright side and ran with
Showing compassion towards someone may be difficult, especially if one has a preexisting bias against that person. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee explores this topic, including how to decide if one is worthy of compassion. The citizens of Maycomb can be quick to judge anyone who is “different”, without fully understanding that person’s backstory. Mayella Ewell is one character who is often subject to this judgment, specifically during Tom Robinson’s trial. During this eventful period, she gains lots of negative attention and is shown no compassion. Because the people of Maycomb see in “black and white”, they are unable and unwilling to fathom that there is another side to the story, thus depriving Mayella of the sympathy she deserves. Mayella Ewell is worthy of compassion because her father is abusive, she does all of the work at home, and she does not deserve her family’s poor reputation.
n Begin Match to source 4 in source list: Submitted to Highland High School on 2018-04-19To Kill a Mockingbird,End Match they have 3 characters that have gotten my attention throughout the story. The first one is Jean Louise “scout”, scout was an intelligent little girl who would see the goodness in people and the community. The second one is Arthur Radley also known as “boo”. He is a quiet man who is always inside his house but is a very caring man. Last one is Tom Robinson, he was a hardworking man, dedicated husband and father to his three children. In the novel to kill a mockingbird, Jean louise a tomboyish,smart little girl she was, always saw the best Begin Match to source 3 in source list: Submitted to Mountain View High School on 2006-12-17in peopleEnd Match and Begin Match to source 3 in source list: Submitted to Mountain View High School on 2006-12-17her community.
There were several “mockingbird” personalities in To Kill a Mockingbird, but the two that stood out to me were Miss Maudie and Scout Finch. They’re not always happy and were never ideal people, but they never caused any harm during any major conflicts in the novel. Their attitudes were usually positive, and could sometimes get too positive. Both Scout and Mrs. Maudie were always in a better state of mind than people who constantly had ideas about business and never had much fun.
Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place during the Great Depression, which is about 50 years after slavery had officially ended. However, the town of Maycomb County was immensely segregated and prejudiced. As a result, many of the residents assume the characteristics of other residents through town gossip and rumors. Throughout the novel, many of the people’s opinions and ideas are greatly influenced by others because having a strong opinion on controversial issues in the town could lead to cruel consequences. The fear of being judged and rejected from society causes many of Maycomb County’s people to conceal the truth about the false gossip which leads to others misinterpreting and believing the gossip. Miss Maudie Atkinson, a young widow, is one of the few characters that displays her own individuality and protests against what she does not believe to be true. Miss Maudie's positive trait of bravery makes her an asset to the Maycomb community because through her individuality, she becomes a role model for individuals such as Scout Finch.
Written by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird explores Ms. Maudie’s reaction to her house burning down, revealing how she does not value possessions; believes in following societal rules; and has a lighthearted perspective on life. Scout chats with Ms. Maudie after the house incident: “Grieving, child? Why, I hate that old cow barn. Thought of settin’ fire to it a hundred times myself, except they’d lock me up” (Lee 97). Directly characterized, Ms. Maudie is a woman who hates her “old cow barn,” further allowing readers to see that this character does not value having attachments to possessions.
Dubose, Mrs. Maudie’s courage is found in what she doesn’t do and what she doesn’t say, and is fueled by her sense of ethics. The vast majority of Maycomb revels in the gossip of the Robinson trial, and they blatantly despise Atticus for defending him; whereas Mrs. Maudie quietly supports Atticus and rejects racism. Moreover, she is impervious to the town’s opinion of her and continues on her path to self-defined moral high ground. She explains to Jem and Scout, “‘Footwashers believe anything that's pleasure is a sin. Did you know some of ‘em came out of the woods one Saturday and passed by this place and told me me and my flowers were going to hell?[...] They’d burn right with me. They thought I spent too much time in God’s outdoors and not enough time inside reading the bible’” (Lee 44). Mrs. Maudie’s reaction to the onlookers is where her courage lies, she is both non confrontational with them and steady in her own beliefs. Despite her quiet rebellion, her actions are still futile as they will not change the racism and prejudice around her. Mrs. Maudie heeds Lee’s courage in a more subtle, yet equally effective,
Scout like most young girls, is very observant about the world around her. Scout tends to show an observant side to her personality when people started to talk trash and spread rumors about Boo Radley. Being a young girl at that time she followed along with the rumors and stories she had heard. Scout, Jem, and Dill then decided to make a game out of the Radle’s ever so
An American author once said: “Without compassion, then community, commitment, loving-kindness, human understanding, and peace all shrivel.” Compassion and love thrives as one of the most important human attribute; it stirs in people and fictional characters. In the timeless classic of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, characters display determined compassion. Atticus Finch, a peaceful and justice-seeking lawyer sides a trial and case of blunt racism for a falsely accused victim; his children see his love for all people and races. The Finch children, Scout and Jem, also have their affectionate household caregiver, Calpurnia, who acts just like a warm mother-figure they never had. As well as their cherished neighbor, Miss Maudie Atkinson,
Harper Lee introduces Scout as an insensible tomboy caught in the midst of contrite prejudicial conception. She has not yet discovered what is right and wrong due to various misconceptions that the people of
Scout depicts the theme of human dignity by following Atticus' words of wisdom and putting them to use in her everyday life. She demonstrates the immense understanding that humans are to be treated
For example, “Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?” (317). “Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.” (321). “An’ they chased him ‘n’ never could catch him ‘cause they didn’t know what he looked like, an’ Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things . . . Atticus, he was real nice . . .” (322-323). Scout finally understands Atticus’s words. She now views Maycomb differently through Boo’s eyes. Able to see the good and evil of Maycomb county and understands why Boo Radley stayed inside his house for many years. His house was his protection from Maycomb’s Disease. Scout understands the innocence of Boo Radley. Also, she realizes that he was never a monster and had come to understand that Boo Radley was a
Miss Maudie Atkinson is not like the other women of Maycomb in that she treats them kindly and avoids patronizing them. She is a supportive of Atticus and his efforts in defending Tom, which does not always make the rest of the community like her, but it does mean that the kids will respect and trust her.
As long as evil existed unchecked in the town, it was Miss Strangeworth's duty to keep her town in check.In the story, “The Possibility of Evil”,by Shirley Jackson,the author addresses the ideas of a lady who writes letters to people telling them their evil in hope of them changing without the person knowing it is her who is writing the letters.Miss Strangeworth’s has a lot of characteristics,there’s only three that I would be able to describe her as organized,clever,and cruel.
During the Great Depression, racism and prejudice were the cause of suffering for many people who were greatly affected by discriminating thoughts. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Maycomb County is a town also filled with the evils of racism of prejudice, but that immorality is often hidden by certain of acts of courage and goodness enacted by the citizens of Maycomb. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays the importance of courage through characters Atticus, Mrs. Dubose, and Jean Louise (Scout) Finch, who all persevere through the path of rightness in the face of prejudiced and disapproving opinions, without worrying about the consequences of their actions. Atticus’ decision to defend Tom Robinson brings many disapprovals from others but he still continues to fight for him, although he knows that there is a high chance of Tom Robinson being doomed because of his race. Mrs. Dubose exemplifies courage because even though it costs her life and invited bad thoughts from others, she stays determined to get free of her addiction. Scout, an innocent, young girl, shows courage by defending what she thinks is right, although the consequences may not be good for her.
Harper Lee introduces Scout as an insensible tomboy caught in the midst of contrite prejudicial conception. She has not yet discovered what is right and wrong due to various misconceptions that the people of Maycomb