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Character development of Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird Part 1
Character development of Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird Part 1
Character analysis to kill a mockingbird
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Miss Maudie Atkinson We all know that one sweet lady who lives in a quiet neighborhood just down the road from you. Harper Lee wrote the book To Kill A Mockingbird and in it that sweet lady is Miss Maudie Atkinson. Miss Maudie is very respectful, outdoorsy, but she is also very nurturing when it comes to her garden and the kids. I chose to talk about Miss Maudie Atkinson because I did not know who else to talk about and because she seems really sweet, plus Jem and Scout love her. I do know a “Miss Maudie Atkinson” but she goes by Peggy, she goes to my church. Peggy is very sweet, nurturing and she cares about everyone. Even though Miss Maudie Atkinson just comes off as respectful, outdoorsy and nurturing she knows very much about how to keep …show more content…
But in chapter twenty-four it is talking about Aunt Alexandra hosting a missionary meeting. Which meant every lady in Maycomb county was at the Finch’s house. Scout is there because Jem would not let her go with Dill and him. Scout states that she “divided the lonely hours between Calpurnia (the help) and Miss Maudie (Lee, 305). During this chapter, you can also see how Scout acts around Aunt Alexandra and how she feels she has to walk on eggshells while Aunty is around. But since Scout was hanging out with all of the lady’s this meant she had to dress like one, scout wore a dress with her pants own underneath. Which Miss Maudie made a comment about. But as they were enjoying their refreshments, Miss Stephanie Crawford started to ask Scout questions. Miss Stephanie asked, “Whatcha going to be when you grow up, Jean Louis”? “A lawyer”? (Lee, 307). Scout answered her back saying “Nome, I hadn’t thought about it…” (Lee, 308). Scout tried to change the conversation but Miss Stephanie just kept encouraging it. The ladies were laughing at Scout and the stuff Miss Stephanie was saying, while she was still asking questions “Miss Maudie’s hand touched mine [Scout] and I answered mildly enough”, “Nome, just a lady”. (Lee, 308) Miss Stephanie told her that she would not get very far in becoming a lady if she did not wear more
Scout, the protagonist, is a young girl coming of age in a society trying to shove her into a dress and the role of a gilded daughter. For example, when Scout recalls a conversation with her Aunt Alexandra, a figurehead for society and one of the major female figures in her life, she begins to shine her own light on how to brighten her father’s life in a way that is true to herself. On page 108, Scout comes to terms with the fact that she is defying stereotypes, “I could not possibly be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra’s vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father’s lonely life. I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants just as well, but Aunty said that one had to behave like a sunbeam, that I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge,
People are like pieces of various, mind-blowing art projects; they come in all shapes and sizes, and some are more detailed than others. Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Possibility of Evil”, provides a specific example in one character. Miss Strangeworth is introduced, and she can be described as arrogant, outgoing, and meddlesome. Miss Strangeworth’s character can be analyzed by considering what she does, what the narrator says about her, and how other characters interact with her.
For Christmastime the Finches went to Aunt Alexandra's house “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants.(81 Lee)” After Jem and Scout came back from going to Calpurnia’s church they told their father all about it, who seemed happy, but Aunt Alexandra was not. I felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away. Immediately."(136 Lee). When Scout was put into a pink dress she felt uncomfortable right away and much rather would want to be in a pair of overalls. They felt foreign to her. Scout expresses her negative feelings by comparing them to being trapped in a dress. She calls the dress a “penitentiary” which is a
Scout Finch, the main character of the book, is a nine-year-old girl who is the narrator of the story. Scout’s Aunt Alexandra stereotypes Scout in the book many times. She says that Scout was born un-ladylike and that she could never be a lady because of the way she dresses. This point is proven when Scout says, "I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants just as well, but Aunty said […] that I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year" (Lee 81). Also, Scout’s br...
Harper Lee’s story To Kill a Mockingbird includes lots of different characters, although not all of them as equally important. However Miss Maudie is a minor character that has an impact on the themes/morals of the story. Also, she helps develop characterization for our main characters. Furthermore, she helps contribute to the motifs in To Kill a Mockingbird. Therefore, I think that Miss Maudie Atkinson is a minor character who impacts the book the most in different ways.
Miss Maudie has lnown Atticus Finch, now she has helped to raise Jem and Scout. Miss Maudie has always been there for scout, “I spent most of the remaining twilights that summer sitting with Miss Maudie Atkinson in her front porch.”(Lee 55) Miss Maudie took time out of her day to spend time with Scout when Jem abandoned her in his games with Dill. Miss Maudie acts like a mother would checking on the child and finding something for them to do. Miss Maudie also acts like a parent when she is asked a question. “Why, one sprig of nut grass can ruin a whole yard. Look here. When it
Another person with southern hospitality is Miss Maudie. She is a neighbor to the Finches, and she shows hospitality to Scout, Jem and Dill with extreme generosity. She allows them to play around in her yard and always has special treats for them. Scout says, “Jem and I had always enjoyed the free run of Miss Maudie’s yard” (56). Here is one example of how she allows that children to play in her yard when all of the other neighbors would not. With other acts of generosity, Miss Maudie proves to have southern
Empathy is one of the greatest powers that a human being can ever hope to achieve; one person being able to understand the inner-workings of another is something truly amazing. However, empathy isn’t something that one is always naturally able to accomplish; in fact, it usually takes a long time for one to develop any empathy at all. In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the reader follows Scout Finch as she experiences her youth in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. In this story, we experience her empathy for others as it increases or decreases. Though there are many examples of these alterations in Scout’s relationships, there is one that is both prominent and more complex than a few others; her relationship with her aunt, Alexandra. There are three specific instances in which we can track the progression of Scout’s empathy towards her aunt; meeting Aunt Alexandra, Scout wanting to invite Walter Cunningham over, and the assault by Bob Ewell of Scout and Jem.
Few have very strict and narrow definitions of what it means to be a lady, however; those who do appear extremely attached to the ideals and strive to maintain their image.There are many examples of this, although the most notable and influential to Scout has been Aunt Alexandra. Aunt Alexandra completely adheres to and advertises the highly ideal standard of a woman in the 1930’s. In the 1930’s the ‘ideal’ woman or the standard for it was extremely close minded as demonstrated by Aunt Alexandra’s very presence, Scout views her in a strict manner and says, “ Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me”(Lee 150). In the early stages of their living together, Scout resist the idea of giving up her masculine activities for a life like her Aunts. While Scout aims to reject her Aunt’s ideals Aunt Alexandra is the type of woman who understands that a woman’s image is always fragile because it is always in the hands of a man. Another woman in the novel that Scout resists for most of her early years is Calpurnia. Following Scout going to Calpurnia’s church, Scout begins to respect Calpurnia’s ways. Scout states “That Calpurnia had led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one”
Clearly, Miss Maudie Atkinson proves very influential in Scout’s life. Scout learns many lessons and morals from her, which ultimately help her become a better person. The lessons and morals Scout acquires provide her with many of the tools necessary for success in life and for improving her character. Among many things, Scout learns from Miss Maudie that she should not judge people or believe rumors, act humbly about any skills she possesses, and always maintain a good and positive attitude. However, not only Scout can learn from Miss Maudie. All individuals can take a lesson from Miss Maudie and become a better person in the process.
The Southern women were told and obligated, by some code of southern conduct, to mature into fair-smelling, perfect "ladies." By "ladies" they meant women who were well mannered, good at embroidery, and wore frilly, lacy dresses. One example of this southern tradition occurs when Aunt Alexandra comes to the Finch residence to help Atticus raise his children during the trial. When first arriving she says to Scout, "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys." This comment implies that the only subjects girls are expected to understand are boys and clothes. Aunt Alexandra makes no mention of Jean Louise's intelligence, education, or personality. Her diction suggests that the only thing Jean Louise is capable of pursuing is her attire and a man. Scout discovers what a "southern lady" is as she notices how Aunt Alexandra "chose protective garments that drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra's was once an hour-glass figure." Scout was considered to be very improper, wearing overalls and pants, but Aunt Alexandra would still try and introduce her to other ladies. I assume that she did this to try and influence Scout. She hoped Scout would form lady-like habits by watching others. Another example takes place after the trial, when Jem is appalled at the decision the court makes in response to Tom Robinson's case.
... My cheeks grew hot as I realized my mistake, but Miss Maudie looked gravely down at me. She never laughed at me unless I meant to be funny”(Lee 229). Miss Maudie treats Scouts like an intelligent adult who can make their own decisions and if she has instances where a Scout is hurt or needs help she is always there to support her. Miss Maudie does not ridicule Judge Scout like Alexandra does; instead she creates a supportive environment for Scouts to thrive and become modern women.
Sexism is not as common a topic in comparison to racism, but does play a role in the development of the novel. This type of discrimination is expressed towards women from men and women alike. Men feel compelled to protect women from unsightly things, (Lee 221), and the women in Maycomb have the mind set that, to be a lady, they must conform to society's expectations of them. They believe they must dress, act, and speak a certain way to appease the community. Aunt Alexandra is a big believer in acting the way society expects her to and attempts to impose these values on her niece, Scout, who becomes mortified, as she has always been a tomboy and prefers spending time in the dirt. “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my [Scout's] attire. She said I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed ...
As a growing young girl, Scout was learning and experiencing things just like any other child would though growing up. She got older and was able to understand things a lot better as well as being able to apply lessons she had learned in her everyday life. She began to act slightly more grown up in situations such as Aunt Alexandria's dinner party. Scout forgot how much she despised her Aunt and how much she disliked dresses and joined the group of women in their conversations. Despite how she didn't want to "act more like a lady", she played along with her Aunt's "campaign to teach me (Scout) to be a lady" made an exception to please her Aunt and to create some peace between them. Upon hearing the news of Tom's death she concludes "if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I." This shows how Scout was beginning to act more ladylike for her Aunt.
...she describes the pompous women. The author uses the women's conversations to emphasize the reasons Scout remains a tomboy and refuses the traits of Maycomb females.