If not for the major characters, the minor characters have played an equally important role in Maycomb with their contrasting views. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is mainly about Jem and Scout growing up under the difficult situations created in Alabama during The Great Depression. Stereotypes and discrimination are major problems in Maycomb. Scout and Jem Finch are raised by Atticus, with the help of Calpurnia, their maid. In the first part of the book, Scout, Jem and Dill are fascinated by Boo Radley because of the rumors they hear about him, and they try everything to make him come out of his house. In the second part of the book, Scout and Jem find out that their father is going to help Tom Robinson, an African-American,
Miss Maudie does a superb job of this. Scout often goes over to Miss Maudie’s when Jem and Dill exclude her. Miss Maudie teaches her to respect others and stay positive in unfavorable times. As Miss Maudie’s house is burning down she jokes, “Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard.
In chapters four through eight, the audience gets to experience the continuous growth of Scout through her own eyes. Lee’s diction portrays Scout’s curiosity when says that the gum I found was fresh, and “ I licked it and waited for a while. When I did not die I crammed it into my mouth” (Lee 1). In this instance, Lee is trying to remind us of Scout’s innocence and compelled mindset, due to her young age. Similarly, when Dill comes back to Maycomb in the summer Scout starts to feel like a third wheel. Scout comments that, “Dill said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me” and “he only grew closer to Jem” (Lee 5). In this quote, Sout is jealous of how much time Dill and Jem are spending together. Jem’s jealousy can be seen earlier, when he says “spit it out right now”(Lee 1). In this quote, Jem is not only acting as an older brother to Scout, but he is also jealous that Scout did not give him any gum.
Ms. Maudie, whose empathy is evident throughout the novel is summarized through the following. Her physical actions and behaviors in terms of understanding Boo and the African American citizens of Maycomb, her expression of ideas and opinions in terms of her house fire reaction and her views on Boo and religion. Lastly, it is expressed through her relationships with others, in terms of Jem and Scout, and Atticus. Reflecting back to the time era of the 1930’s of the South, and the stubborn mindsets of the time in close knit towns like Maycom, it is understood how rare of a person Ms. Maudie is. In all Ms.Maudie illustrates the rare trait of blind empathy for all in the 1930’s
Miss Maudie, although ignoring the norm and wearing a men overalls, she also adheres to the social norm by wearing a dress. What Scout learns from Miss Maudie, is being true to herself, which she expresses when arguing back to her Aunt Alexandra that “...one could be a ray of sunshine in pants as well…”(108). suggesting her tomboyish nature and a dislike of wearing dresses. She also learns to be outspoken, a trait she mimicked from Miss Maudie. Scout expresses this when she was excluded from Jem and Dill’s little adventure to drop off a note to the Radley’s front door, “Will not.
Miss. Maudie is referring to the fact that Scout is too young to understand what is occurring or that she is not old enough to understand the ordeal with Mr. Arthur. Scout is still a young girl, who is still trying to comprehend the world. Nevertheless, Scout is misjudged by Miss. Maudie based on her age.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Miss Maudie Atkinson is depicted as a very influential character and guide in the children’s lives, but above all, she is a strong role model. Initially, Miss Maudie reveals her resilience as she is commonly known to recover from setbacks quickly and effectively. Specifically, when Scout questions Miss Maudie for not grieving after her house being on fire, Miss Maudie replies, “Don’t you worry about me, Jean Louise Finch. There are ways of doing things you don’t know about.
Miss Maudie Atkinson is a widowed sharp-tongued neighbor, and a long time family friend to the Finch family. To Kill A Mockingbird, a novel written by Harper Lee in 1960, is a story that takes place in the 1930’s, about two young children (Jem and Scout) being raised in a small town in Alabama Their father is a lawyer who defends an African-American and is judged by most of the white towns folk. Miss Maudie is one of the few people who supports Atticus defending Tom, and is Jem and Scouts best grown-up friend. Throughout the novel Miss Maudie stands up for Atticus when both the children are upset with him, and when people talk badly about Atticus defending a black man, or talk bad about African-Americans in general. Miss Maudie is willing to be treated badly by other people to stick up for her friend.
The Beauty of the Southern Flowers “Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.” (Lee 278). When it comes to the topic of flowers, most of us will readily agree that they represent development, growth, beauty and happiness. For instance, Roses are known for signifying love and deep passion while Lotus flowers are known for purity of the heart. Nonetheless, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee utilizes flowers to symbolize the strength and character that women of Maycomb possess.
When certain situations happen to people with good morals, they feel empathy for those who do not understand people as easily. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, a respectable lawyer and his children are involved in many unique experiences that help them learn necessary life lessons about society during the 1900’s. Scout and Jem learn a particularly important lesson about racial injustice when their father takes on a life-changing case. Upstanding characters show empathy more than others since good morals lead to self-respect and happiness, it allows people to appreciate the good around them. Throughout the novel, exemplary characters like Maudie Atkinson, Atticus Finch, and Scout Finch demonstrate empathy for characters who don’t
One of their favorite pastimes was to go annoy a neighbor, Miss. Lottie. All of the children would come together and hide behind the bushes. Then they would pelt the stunning flowers that stood in front of the poor, broken down, little house that Miss. Lottie shares with her son.
Moral dilemma of characters in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird The way people handle moral dilemmas are often different. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee show various moral dilemmas and how different characters deal with it. Scout chose to be different in handling with her moral dilemma and change for the better while Mayella does not change and does wrong.
Her father influences her decisions and is a great role model. If it were not for Atticus, Scout would have been like the rest of society. It is people like Atticus, Scout, Jem, and Judge Taylor who make a difference in Maycomb. Everything Scout has learned apply to different types of prejudice, as proven in the
Scout (Jean Louise)- Jean Louise (more commonly known as Scout) is introduced to us as a young six year old girl who is innocent, but intrigued in the world. “‘If you shouldn’t be defendin‘ him, then why are you doin’ it?’ ‘For a number of reasons,' said Atticus. ' The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t hold up my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.’
They talked about all the people in town, the new, and the old. Jem asked about Scout’s girls. “They are great, thank God”. “Amilia is almost done with her doctor degree and Catrina is in the middle of graduating college but still hasn’t made up her mind about which University she wants to attend”. “Great to hear” Jem said.