Miss Maudie Character Analysis

Although it is not the most pressing matter of the novel, sexism is touched on during several occasions. During the 1930’s, it was not uncommon for unfair treatment of women. Lee hints at this by subtly incorporating acts of sexism into the text. For instance, throughout the story, most women are denied the rights that men have. One of these rights is having the opportunity to work. This can be seen in Miss. Maudie’s character who “can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman,” (Lee 296). Even though she is more trustworthy than most and is suitable for the job, the reality of that happening is little to none because of her gender. Lee also weaves sexism into the novel by using women as an insult. During one of their many childhood outings, Jem

f. Atticus feels that the adults have made the world the way that it is and the children have to learn to live in that world. They can’t hide from it and need to be exposed to it as early as possible.

He has put himself, and his family at the top, and black people at the bottom. Throughout the book, Harper Lee there introduces the Cunninghams, who are more poor than Finch’s, and then the Ewells, who are the poorest, living behind the dump. On the other hand, Miss Caroline, an outsider from northern Alabama, does not understand the social ranks in Maycomb. Scout tries to explain to her, ‘“That’s okay, ma’am, you'll get to know all the county folks after a while”’ (Lee 22).

Scout does not feel exactly comfortable being around a group of women and she realizes it with this quote, “ Rather nervous, I took a seat beside Miss Maudie and wondered why ladies put on their hats to go across the street. Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere” (307). In that same scene, she succumbs to the pressures of the other women when asked what she wants to do when she grows up, saying “Nome, just a lady” (308). Scout starts to realize that it is inevitable that she deals with the world of ladies. “There is no doubt about it, I must soon enter this world, where on its surface fragrant ladies rocked slowly, fanned gently, and drank cool water. But I was more at home in my father’s world”

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 a child grows, many people influence their development as a person. Some people impact more than others, and a select few really leave their mark. In Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” several characters play this role. Among them, Miss Maudie Atkinson, a woman who proves herself a strong character, prevails as the one who has the greatest impact on Scout Finch, the protagonist of this novel. As Scout matures and grows up, her views on the world around her change. Through subtle yet effective ways, Miss Maudie teaches Scout many life lessons about being humble, judging, and attitude, all of which ultimately have a great effect on the kind of person Scout develops into and her outlook on the world.

First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guest.” Offering the best of their self to someone else does not come easy. Southern generosity compels people to offer more than normal often sharing their personal possessions. Harper Lee author of To Kill A Mockingbird ensures her characters based in the south demonstrates the southern hospitality that the south is known for. Characters such as the Finch family, Miss Maudie, and the rest of the Maycomb community all live their life based on the souths well known generosity. Southern hospitality shows itself all over the book whether the people allow someone to stay in their house, use their belongings, or host a party.

Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, prejudices against gender roles are evident in a multitude of ways. For example, Scout states, “Until it happened I did not realize that Jem was offended by my contradicting him on Hot Steams..” (41). Scout saying this establishes the idea that girls are not to suppose to contradict boys. Dill is embarrassed and ashamed that a girl is not believing him and he takes offense to that. Miss. Maudie Atkinson is faced with the stereotypes of being a woman. Everyone expects her to stay inside and do housework. In fact, Miss. Maudie Atkinson declares, “I hate my house: time spent indoors is time wasted.” (47). Here it is evident that Miss. Atkinson is breaking her gender role. During this time period, women were viewed in a way

This tells us that Miss Maudie is very respectful of the Ewells and that she thinks they are equal to everyone else. This is also revealed when she says “Arthur Radley just stays in the house, that’s all.” The idiom at the end gives a sense of finality, that what Arthur Radley does is his business and no one else’s. This same lesson is given to Scout by Atticus after she and Jem are caught trying to sneak a letter into the Radley House. He says “… what Mr Radley does is his own business.” This shows his attitude that people can do what they want provided it’s within the law; which ties into the fact that he is a lawyer. Therefore, Scout learns from both Atticus and Miss Maudie that what people do is their own business and that Scout should be respectful towards them, and also that she shouldn’t always believe rumours.

"Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it." Page 5

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,

of Maycomb. When Mrs. Maudie's house catches on fire in the middle of the night Scout sees the community pitching in to save her belongings “The men of Maycomb, in all degrees of dress and undress, took furniture from Miss Maudie's house to a yard across the street. I saw Atticus carrying Miss Maudie’s heavy old rocking chair, and thought it sensible of him to save what she valued most” (Lee, 69) This quote shows that men are not as bad and evil as they come off to be. Even though the town is divided over the court case with Tom Robinson, the people gather around Mrs. Maudie and help her save her precious belongings from the fire. When Scout is watching the community

To begin with, Miss Maudie had many good words through the book. She didn’t speak her mind in a big crowed. She spoke words of wisdom to those who wondered. One of her wise words to Scout and Jem were, “ Sometimes the Bible in the hands of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hands.. There are just some kind of men…who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and they can look down the street and see the result.” (Harper Lee, Chapter 5). Even though she didn’t say it in a big group of people and didn’t make her opinion known to everyone this still is a very important and very powerful.

Based on her actions in Chapter 22, it is clear that Miss Stephanie is extremely absorbed in drama. Rather than focusing on the actual trial, she focuses on the gossip points that arose in result of the trial. When the kids go to see her, she is recounting the events of the trial to Miss Maudie and Mr. Avery which demonstrates why she is considered the “English Channel of gossip.” Scout notes that “Miss Stephanie’s nose quivered with curiosity” which depicts Miss Stephanie’s temptation to ask them intrusive questions. Scout knew that the questions she wanted to ask included: “who all gave us permission to go to court,” “did Scout understand all the—?,” and “didn’t it make us mad to see our daddy beat?”

Harper Lee demonstrates the gender inequity In to Kill a Mockingbird through the description and words of the female narrator, Scout. The prejudice of Maycomb is shown so clearly, even an innocent child like Scout can see the raging extent of gender prejudice that surrounds her. Scout having traits that are more masculine in quality automatically makes her an outcast and disliked by Maycomb's many conforming ideals. Scouts innocence allows the novel to develop through an unbiased perspective. Women had little to serve in juries and there was the constant expectation all women had to act and dress like a Lady. Aunt Alexandra an evident example of having strong beliefs on how separate genders should behave, constantly scolding Scout for wearing her overalls and behaving too tomboyish." I was not so sure, but Jem told me i was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, thats why other people hated them so, and if i started behaving like one i could just go off and find some to play with. (4.119) Scout is raised to believe boys were better than girls, raised in a bigoted and heavily bias community, scout finds it a difficult and unfair experience trying to understand the unjust perceptions of the adults around her. Having Scout narrate the whole novel allows Harper lee to highlight the gender inequity in Maycomb.