Topic 8: Examine and analyze the character Miss Maudie Atkinson.

Topic 8: Examine and analyze the character Miss Maudie Atkinson. What is her purpose in the novel—why does she exist? How would the story be different without her?

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Permalink Reply by The Wind 9A on May 7, 2017 at 4:04pm

On the contrary, I believe Miss Maudie is meant to be a kind and sweet person so that the kids have that kind of person to look up to. She is there to cheer up Jem and Scout during their darkest times because no one does that other than Atticus. Miss Maudie was always there for them when they are upset and would never fail to make them happy. Miss Maudie would tells Jem that, "We're so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we've got men like Atticus to go for us," (Lee 215). She tries to cheer Jem up because he seems to believe the world is unfair. She tries to cheer him up by saying that his father is one of the few people that can rely on. That is why Miss Maudie is a sweet and kind person.

Permalink Reply by Numia 9C on May 7, 2017 at 4:17pm

Again, I respect your opinion but, do you really think that is the purpose of Miss Maudie in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird? Think bigger picture! :)

Permalink Reply by Imagine 9A on May 7, 2017 at 6:14pm

Numia Im not saying miss maudie only exists to be kind this isn't her purpose at all I've already said this before but she is portayed that way. yes of course there is a bigger and better picture to miss maudie but all im saying is that she definetly weilds those characterstics which do create an impact. I was trying to point out the fact that she is sweet and kind because before you completely erased the fact she is, which is why im talking more about it but again I do agree with that there are more important things about Maudie.

Permalink Reply by Numia 9C on May 7, 2017 at 6:55pm

Not to be rude or anything, but I think you went overboard. I never "completely erased the fact" that Miss Maudie was "kind". What I have said before is that, there is a more important purpose for Miss Maudie in the novel and that is to show that there are always messages written for people to contain and have time to think about, which might lead to an outstanding thought, never thought before. No hard feelings. :)

Permalink Reply by Imagine 9A on May 7, 2017 at 7:20pm

I see my bad and your good.:) Its true what you said that there is more to her than just kindness.

Permalink Reply by Numia 9C on May 8, 2017 at 4:28am

No No! There is nothing wrong with your response, Imagine 9A!! I really do respect your response and you OF COURSE are not in the wrong idea!!

Permalink Reply by Androgynous 9C on May 7, 2017 at 6:14pm

I do agree with The Wind, Miss Maudie is meant to be a sweet person that Jem and Scout could look up too. Miss Maudie is a character that loves her garden and through the novel to kill a mockingbird it looks like she deeply cares about her community and the environment. Jem describes Miss Maudie as ''Miss Maudie hated her house, time spent indoors was time wasted. She was a widow, a chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and coveralls, but after her five o'clock bath she would usually appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty''(Lee 40,41). This supports that Miss Maudie cares about the environment and that Jem views her as a kind and genuine person to be around. Throughout this novel Miss Maudie has been a important character because she helped teach Jem and Scout to be better people and to be aware of there surroundings. I truly believe that Miss Maudie could symbolize a mockingbird because she has been there for scout and jem and became like a mother/friend to them. She taught them many things that Atticus didn't. And i think that shes someone that they can look up too.

Permalink Reply by Rainbow 9A on May 7, 2017 at 7:16pm

Androgynous I do agree with you there when you said that Miss Maudie is someone that Jem and Scout look up to. The reason why is because Miss Maudie does not only guide them but she also gave them an important perspective in their lives by filling them in with more important information that they didn't know about, like their father and Maycomb. Harper Lee states "Whether Maycomb knows it or not, we're paying the highest tribute we can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It's that simple"(Lee 308). This means that everybody in the county can keep their hopes up for someone that can make a change in Maycomb. This goes back to Atticus because he is a man that is wise and helps people in a good way for change in the community. People look up to him for trust and believe that he can fix/do things in community for his people.Including Miss Maudie looks up to him and knows that he can do it and not give up for Maycomb.

Permalink Reply by Dr. Exuberance 9B on May 7, 2017 at 6:37pm

Numia, i understand your point of view, but i disagree, Miss maudies sweetness and kindness is her purpose in the novel. everything she does in the novel is in someway kind. she always helps scout understand things she doesn't understand. she is so kind and is always giving them treats. she is patient and is always willing to answer any questions that scout has. when scout is asking about Atticus, she gives them an honest answer," I simply want to tell you that there are some men in this world who have born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. your father's one of them" (Lee 215). it takes somebody who has kindness to actually answer children honestly, most people are afraid that the child would be offended but Miss Maudie wants to be as honest with the scout as possible. this clearly shows that miss maudie not only has an impact on the book, but on scouts life which are technically the same (because scouts life is the book). Summing it all into one sentence, i disagree with your idea that miss Maudie's kindness isn't her purpose in the book

Permalink Reply by Star Who? 9D on May 7, 2017 at 8:20pm

Imagine 9A, I disagree with your reasoning of Miss Maudie being kind and sweet.I mean she is both of these stuff but her overall purpose doesn't resemble only being kind and sweet.She is a guide to the children so they can understand Maycomb and the people in it, she is a motherly figure to them giving them advice and clarifying stuff that they don't understand because they are still kids.She is helpful and a caring person by putting her time aside and make delicious foods and treats for the children.In the book TKAMB, Miss Maudie states, "You are too young to understand it ... but sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of - oh, of your father."(Lee 60).Miss Maudie gives them bad examples and intentions so they won't follow in those bad ideologies. She guides them in the right direction at all times because that's what she loves to do as a motherly figure, she does everything that a mother does and more(in exception of yelling and being harsh on them).Miss Maudie's purpose includes a kind and sweet person but is not fully circling around those to things she acts as kind and sweet but there is more to her than these to things.