Student Question
What is not admirable about Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Quick answer:
While Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird is often seen as admirable, she has some less favorable traits. Her primary weakness is her tentativeness, particularly in addressing gossip among her friends. Although she subtly reminds Aunt Alexandra's friends of their behavior, she could be more direct in her rebukes. Additionally, as a static character, she shows little development or change throughout the novel.
You are right in finding more positive traits in Miss Maudie than negative ones. She is almost a female Atticus. She shares a similar philosophy and recognizes the importance of Atticus's role in Maycomb.
The only negative quality or weakness that I believe Harper Lee gives Miss Maudie is her tentativeness in some areas. For example, Miss Maudie could be bolder in rebuking her friends when they gossip, but even then she reminds Aunt Alexandra's friends that they are eating Atticus's food when they berate him at his own table.
Essentially, Miss Maudie is a static character. At the novel's beginning, she is a moral, supportive character, and she remains the same at the end of the book.
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