Mockingbirds 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. The main theme in To Kill a Mockingbird is the coexistence between good and evil. "There are just some kind of men who—who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” (Lee 60) This quote demonstrates a sense of wisdom and cleverness which contrast the other “She had never told on us, had never played cat-and-mouse with us, she was not at all interested in our private lives. She was our friend.” (Lee 59) This was how Scout described Miss Maudie, Scout was explaining her perspective of herself and that she wants to be treated like an adult and that the only one to do so was Miss Maudie. Consequently, this helps the readers understand Scout. Also, Miss Maudie helps to develop Jem’s character by giving him a big cake when he’s supposed to have a small one like Scout and Dill. This shows that she doesn’t consider him a kid anymore which reflects Jem’s journey to adulthood throughout the book. “I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.” (Lee 288) This quote was Miss Maudie’s way of explaining to Jem and Scout what their father’s job was, in other words, what his character’s job was. Miss Maudie’s quotes and actions were able to help the characterization of the main
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, communicates a central idea that society has good and bad qualities by using an epigraphic symbol and dynamic characterization of the novel’s protagonist, Scout. The theme of To Kill a Mockingbird is that individuals affect society in both good and bad aspects. Lee demonstrates this idea by utilizing a mockingbird as the primary symbol of the novel and characterizing Scout to reveal and understand that both good and bad exist in the world. Scout learns that all a mockingbird does is good, it sings, but never does anything that people hate (Lee 90). In the novel, mockingbirds ...
Scout tried to explain this to her teacher, Miss Caroline, but got in trouble. Scout was so angry she rubbed Walter’s nose in dirt. Jem invited Walter over for dinner and Scout made a remark that made Calpurnia furious. She told Scout, “That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat the table cloth you let him, you hear?” (32). Scout went on to say how just because he is a Cunningham he was not company. Calpurnia became even more furious and raised her voice and said, “Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em” (33). This lesson was important because Scout learned just because you might be better than someone or have more does not mean you should act like it. Calpurnia gives the talks and is there for both children just like a real mother would be. Miss Maudie is another Maycomb citizen who is an important role model for Jem and
Do Bystanders have a responsibility to intervene in crimes? This is a question we tend to ask ourselves very often. In the texts To Kill a Mockingbird and “Stand Up”, one can see the dangers of intervening in crimes. Bystanders are innocent and shouldn't risk their own lives for someone they don't even know. Being a bystander doesn't make you guilty, because it's your choice weather to help and stick up for someone or not.
...character foils within Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, each pair symbolizing the good and evil that lies within Maycomb County. Boo and Nathan Radley, though brothers, look at life in contrasting ways. Walter Cunningham Jr. and Burris, though classified the same in terms of society, stand for opposite morals; and Miss Maudie Atkinson and Miss Stephanie Crawford, both respected women in Maycomb, are nothing alike in terms of character. The philosophical meaning behind character foils present not only in this novel, but other works of literature, can be seen as the balance within the universe; with every good thing, comes a bad thing that counterweights it. “The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present ...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the human being's difficulty in coming to virtuous balance with himself” (Gilbert 251).
...t and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice.” [Libba Bray] The character “foils” within Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird add a real meaning of development, and complexity in the story that grasps the readers attention. It can be seen that each pair of characters are present in a way that the readers are able to show the contrast between each pair and can acknowledge and recognize a “good” character from a “bad” one. This contrast is most evident in the way each character deals with a situation. It is essential that, as readers, we do not assume that certain characters are the same due to some of the likeness that they have because each person has their own personality that creates the true image of their individual that is being described. In this world, there will be both good and evil because that is what creates balance in the world.
Like a mockingbird, children are generally a joy for most people, free from committing the sins that come with growing up. Scout was a joy to Miss Maudie this is seen when scout says “She called us by our names … a gesture of cordiality that cemented our friendship”. This quote shows that she is like a mockingbird because she’s just good to be around even with an adult. Also, since she wasn’t raised as a racist during this time she was seen as an outcast, some kids challenged her ideals and the fact that her father was defending a black man. Scout is a harmless child who is just trying to understand why people are racist. The innocence Scout remains throughout the story, though they witness actions that are far from innocent; The Ewells accuse an innocent man of terrible
Among many things, Miss Maudie teaches Scout that she should not judge people based solely on rumors she might hear about them. Scout, being only six years old at the time of the story, believes everything that reaches her hears and takes most things literally. Rumors she hears about a man named Boo Radley, who many consider the town freak because of his different lifestyle and because nobody ever sees him, create in her the belief that he is a crazy maniac. The activities she takes part in with her older brother Jem and their friend Dill only fuel her theories about Boo. When Jem and Dill begin shunning Scout aside, she spends her time with Miss Maudie instead, and they develop a kind of friendship. Miss Maudie, a Baptist who loves nature, has high morals, and treats everyone as equals, aids in Scout discontinuing her belief about Boo Radley’s state of mind. At one point, they have a conversation regarding Boo. They discuss the rumors Scout has heard thus far about him, and Miss Maudie shoots down her beliefs. When Scout asks Mi...
Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee vividly illustrates two sides of humans. These two sides are their dark side, as well as the highlights, and all that is good, and noble. Harper Lee uses a sort of diction to explain this very clearly. She also clearly uses motifs to her advantage to show this. In To Kill a Mockingbird, this is clearly shown time and time again.
When Scout felt lonely and left out, Miss Maudie was always available, willing to set aside anything she was doing and focus on Scout’s problems. Like Christ, Miss Maudie was dependable. She never laughed at Jem and Scout for their ideas, never told them to go away, and never told them to figure out their own problems. Instead, she related to the children, deeply feeling their joys, sorrows, and frustrations. However, Miss Maudie’s most commendable attribute is her thoughtfulness. She taught the children not to value earthly things, not to tie your identity to any worldly item that could pass away. She imparted her love of God’s creation to Jem and Scout, and taught them to value it above all else. Miss Maudie’s strong Christ-like character traits shaped Scout and Jem’s worldview and forever impacted their
Ultimately, the minor characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are crucial in rendering the novel a masterpiece. Their individuality is refreshing yet meaningful, as they break the stereotypes that attempt to limit a prejudiced society. Scout herself is deeply influenced by the characters she meets, and the experience only increases her wisdom. Also, the symbols portrayed through minor characters speak volumes about humankind- not only of our flaws but of the promise of change and redemption. In truth, minor characters are of utmost importance in any story, because the world an author creates is only as good as the characters that populate it.
Carefreeness, compassion, and empathy are presented in the form of Miss Maudie Atkinson in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She was the best character that Harper Lee presented in this novel and she presented many morals that often seem absent from the world. Her actions helped shape the Finch children and taught them as she continued with her wonderfully simple
Think back the world where evil and unjust actions are based on the color of skin. To Kill a Mockingbird is all about that world. It is about a real world and a real-time period where this injustice would happen. All of these quotes together show how evil, hypocrisy, and injustice are prevalent in society; they show us how normal people can be prejudiced, how they can cheat out others for their own personal gain, or even just because they don’t like that person. On top of it all, these quotes are through an innocent child’s perspective.
“Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man//He just has his blind spots along with the rest of us” (210) This quote from To Kill a Mockingbird By Harper Lee (in a deeper meaning) says that people are good, but coexist with the evil within. Which brings me to believe that In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses foreshadowing and symbolism to develop a larger theme to readers that good and evil can coexist, inside all of us.
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.
The biggest similarity between Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra consist of facts that show both of these women act as two of the few female presences in Scout's life. In differing ways, they give her the feminine guidance as Scout grows older throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. Leading by example, A way Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra both instill ideas and rules which