How Does Miss Maudie Mature

Just as Calpurnia helps Scout to mature, Miss Maudie takes it one step further and she too is a great role model for Scout. Miss Maudie helps Scout mature by teaching her to be courageous and follow the examples of her father, Atticus. Scout views Miss Maudie as her friend and looks up to her as she is “the best lady” (Lee 59) Scout knows, thus enabling Scout to better understand the teachings of Miss Maudie and comprehend the prejudice existing in Maycomb. Living in a home dominated with a male presence, Scout was not very lady-like and behaved and dressed as more of a tomboy. She was often criticized by many, even her own aunt (Lee 108), but Miss Maudie serves as role model as she is someone Scout can easily relate to. Similarly like Scout,

After the fire, Scout asks Miss Maudie why she was not grieving to which Miss Maudie says “Always wanted a smaller house. Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, I’ll have more room for my azaleas now!” (Lee 97). Miss Maudie’s positive attitude during a negative situation, characterizes her to be courageous. The courage displayed by Miss Maudie is then reflected onto Scout, allowing her to better stand up against the injustices in Maycomb like her father Atticus. Miss Maudie expresses her appreciation for Atticus’s courage to Scout by telling her “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). Miss Maudie refers to Atticus’s involvement in the Tom Robinson case and how it is an unpleasant job because no one in Maycomb wants to defend a nigger; she is speaking of Atticus’s moral values as he has the courage to stand up for what is right, a quality which Scout will strive to achieve as she matures. By talking about the courage which Atticus’s possess to do what is right, Miss Maudie helps Scout to follow the examples of her