What does it mean, “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets?” (51) Caverley-Light
In Chapter 5 of To Kill A Mockingbird, Miss Maudie says that “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets” (51). In a way, he isn’t a hypocrite, he acts the same way to every single person he meets, even his children.
That sounds like a good thing because he’s respectful to everyone and does not lie to anyone but from Scout’s point of view it might not be. Shouldn’t he act differently with his children, instead of treating them like adults already? That may be why Scout and Jem are so knowledgeable and why Scout speaks out so much. Atticus is a lawyer and so this quote shows that to the rest of the world he is only that and he portrays the same image in his own household.
This all goes back to the “Maycomb Way” and Scout’s growth. Scout doesn’t have many friends because she grew up differently. To her peers she is this seven year old than can speak out to her teachers but to herself it’s normal. She grew up having to express her opinion. She doesn’t entirely fit into the “Maycomb Way” herself.
How does Atticus Finch fit into the “Maycomb Way” and if he doesn’t, why? Why does Atticus treat Scout and Jem like adults? Why is Miss Maudie giving Scout advice when she has nothing to do with it?
Ms. Maudie gives Scout advice because Ms.Maudie wants to talk some sense into Scout. Even though Scout’s voice may sound more mature, her youth still exists because Scout believes everything she is told. She thinks all of the rumors she hears about her neighborhood are true.
ReplyDeleteThis is harmful for Scout because almost all of the rumors she hears from Jem are either over exaggerated or non-existent. Also, Atticus is still unaware about some of the nonsense she hears, therefore he can’t help her. So when Ms. Maudie tells Scout not to believe in the Boo Radley mystery, she is trying to help Scout’s very imaginative mind. Harper Lee choose to include Scout and Ms.Maudie’s interaction because it highlights Scout immaturity, and it gives the reader a more grown-up perspective of the Radley’s mystery.
Do you think Scout will listen to Ms. Maudie’s advice? How will Jem react to Ms. Maudie’s advice? Do you think Scout will believe Ms.Maudie or Jem?
With his children, Atticus is not much of a father. He is more of a mentor, as he shares advice. His and Scout's relationship is very formal, she calls him sir and his first name instead of father. Calpurnia seems to be the one to discipline the children. For example when scout comments on Walter having lots of molasses, Calpurnia is the one to talk to her about it. I agree that he is the same person to everyone, including his children. I think that Atticus treats Scout and Jem like adults because he doesn't know how to act with children. He seems to be busy and he doesn't seem to spend much time with them. Atticus also wants his children to be mature, as we saw when he is talking to Scout about other people's perspective. He may treat his children like adults so they become mature. How do you think this will impact Scout in the future of the novel?
ReplyDeleteI agree that Atticus represents wisdom and knowledge in Jem and Scout's life, and less of a supportive and caring father. Scout does not see this as a strange dynamic, since this is the only type of relationship she has had with him. As Scout matures, and sees other parent-child dynamics, she will start to feel a void when it comes to her parental figures. Calpurnia is the only motherly figure in Scout's life and although she loves Scout, Calpurnia is more of an enforcer of rules than someone to confide in. Similarly, Atticus is someone who gives advice to his daughter, but you would never see him throwing a ball with her. This will effect Scout and she could begin to doubt why she does not have typical relationships with her parental figures. How will Harper Lee utilize these dynamics in future plots?
DeleteThroughout the summer, Ms. Maudie and Scout’s relationship has grown much stronger due to Dill and Jems disclusion of Scout. Because Scout’s a girl, Dill and Jem think it’s ok to not include her and also to tell her that she’s wrong, and their right. Because of this, Scout has grown to go over to Ms. Maudie’s house seeking advice, and another woman/girl she can play with. Throughout chapter five, we see how Scout grows to look up to Ms. Maudie as her main female role model, and has also grown to trust her. Ms. Maudie has also recognized that Scout needs a female role model in her life, and this is mainly why she gives Scout so much advice. Why doesn’t Ms. Maudie have a husband? Why does Ms. Maudie care about Jem and Dill almost as much as she cares about Scout?
ReplyDeleteI would argue that Atticus doesn't treat Scout and Jem as adults so much as kids that he is supposed to teach. Their relationship is one based on formality. Atticus stands as a hero in Scout's eyes--someone to defend to Miss Maudie--but also as more of a teacher than a father. He offers lessons and sage advice, but no comfort or fatherly actions. Despite this, I don't believe he treats Scout and Jem as if they were adults; the reminders he gives them are things he most likely would not say to an adult, such as telling them to stop tormenting Boo Radley, or teaching Scout about empathy. The cordial air he speaks to them with is only evidence of the loving, but distant, parent-child relationship the two kids share with Atticus.
ReplyDeleteAtticus knows the Maycomb way, and he makes sure that Scout and Jem know it and fit into it, but he seems to be more of an observer than a part of the Macomb way. What Ms. Maudie said about being the same in private and in public plays into this. Ms. Maudie views this way of presenting himself as strange, so it couldn’t be part of the Maycom way. Another reason why Atticus doesn’t seem to fit into the Maycomb way is the way he talks to his children as his equals, or as someone he is trying to teach rather than talking to them as his children.
ReplyDeleteI think that the connection between Scout and Miss Maudie is a tool that Lee uses as a way to help show Scouts growth, and help to narrow down on what exactly is causing those character changes. So far, Miss Maudrie has already changed something in Scout that the reader may not have even noticed. She told Scout Boo Ridley’s real name, Arthur. Although this might not seem like a big change, it really is because it helps to humanizes Arthur in the mind of Scout, and shows that he’s an actual person and not just a creepy monster that stays in his house all day. What this did was changed a little part of Scout and maybe made her question whether or not Jem had been actually telling the truth about Mr. Arthur. Even after Scout remained skeptical about him, and asked why Arthur stayed in his house all day, Miss Maudie still defended him and explained that he may just not want to come out. The conversation between Miss Maudie and Scout may have changed Scout’s mind in a little enough way to make her reconsider the dark image that has been set for Mr. Arthur. Question: Do you think that Miss Maudie will continue to try to change Scout’s mind about Mr. Arthur, or will stop after this interaction?
ReplyDeleteI think Scout cares so much about Miss Maudie because she sees her for the good person that she is. I’m not just talking about the fact that she bakes cakes for them, but that she is positive in the town of Maycomb. Scout sees the dedication Miss Maudie puts towards her flowers and her love for the world. I believe Miss Maudie is a mother figure in some way rather than just having Calpurnia take that place. Scout doesn’t know what a mother is like and her best representation of that is either Calpurnia or Miss Maudie. She is also given a lot of advice from Jem, Atticus, and Calpurnia. Miss Maudie’s advice is a new voice that is probably nice to hear when constantly being told things from the same people. How Miss Maudie's advice going to compare to Atticus’s? Is Scout going to become distant from her brother with the way he and Dill are currently treating her?
ReplyDeleteAtticus treats Scout and Jem like they are adults. Scout only refers to him as sir, or Atticus, but never dad. Atticus is forcing Scout to become more of an adult then she needs to be at her age. This doesn't mean that they is not as much love in their relationship, as shown everyday when they read together. One reason Atticus might be so formal is because he works as a lawyer, and they have to be so formal all the time. Another reason their relationship is different than most parents and kids is maybe Atticus's dad was the same way to him. Finally, and most importantly, they have such a formal relationship because Scouts mom isn't with them any more. Even though Scout doesn't remember her mom, the loss brought tension in the family. With this came Calpurnia she acts like more of a parent to Scout then Atticus does. Atticus isn't around as much, so as time went on Calpurnia became more of a prominent person in Scout's life. Throughout her life, Scout's relationship may change with Atticus, but Atticus will always be important to her. Do you think Scout is different then other kids cause of the relationship she has with her dad?
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Aticcus is portrayed more as a mentor than a father. Harper Lee clearly shows the student teacher relationship between Atticus and his children with Scout and Jem call their father Sir. Atticus treats Jem and Scout like adults because he wants to prepare Jem and Scout for adulthood. Especially with how immature Scout has shown herself to be with cases like thinking that Arthur Radley was killed and stuffed in a chimney, Atticus has to guide her with his “sprinkles of knowledge”. How do you think this is going to affect Scout throughout the book?
ReplyDelete