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What Does Maudie Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

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The Beauty of the Southern Flowers
“Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.” (Lee 278). When it comes to the topic of flowers, most of us will readily agree that they represent development, growth, beauty and happiness. For instance, Roses are known for signifying love and deep passion while Lotus flowers are known for purity of the heart. Nonetheless, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee utilizes flowers to symbolize the strength and character that women of Maycomb possess.
To get started, the azaleas in the novel represent Maudie Atkinson because of her loving, strong minded, and compassionate character. Azaleas stand out because they are able to grow even in harsh and unbearable conditions. They still turn out to be in a perfect beautiful condition, unlike many flowers who need a good environment to grow. Maudie is a perfect representation of an azalea because she lives in the prejudiced, judgmental town but she still stands out when compared to other individuals in Maycomb because of her loving and compassionate character. For instance, the day after the trial, Jem and Scout are provided with Miss Maudie’s famous cake, “There was a big cake and two little ones on Miss Maudie’s kitchen table. There should have been three little ones. It was not like Miss Maudie to forget Dill, and we must have shown it. We understood when she cut from the big cake and gave the slice to Jem” (Lee 214). An azalea is known for its softness and is often given to the ones you love. Maudie makes sure to be soft and gentle with the children as they are emotionally hurt from the result of the trial. …show more content…

Lee’s usage of the azalea show readers Maudie 's compassionate and understanding personality, while the white camellias to were used to show Mrs. Dubose 's innocence and discriminatory

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(pg. 97), Miss Maudie Atkinson thinks about her azaleas and more space for them to possibly “breathe”. She doesn’t seem to care for her own pleasures and comforts as most people do, but thinks about her azaleas more. Miss Maudie seems to care for her flowers almost as gracefully and gently as she probably would be with small children. Scout had observed Miss Maudie

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Throughout the novel, Scout gets advice from one of her neighbors, Miss Maudie. Miss Maudie has known Scout’s family for years, and the young girl really looks up to her. Miss Maudie is a role model for Scout that is necessary in To Kill a Mockingbird. Miss Maudie teaches Scout to respect others. Scout and Jem, and their friend Dill, often go to the older woman’s house to

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She teaches her to live life to the fullest and the ways of Maycomb. There are many interactions between Scout and Miss Maudie and all of them are positive. Scout is guided by Miss Maudie’s manner and looks up to her. When she is first introduced, Miss Maudie is described as, “a widow, a chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and men’s coveralls, but after her five o 'clock bath she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty,”(Lee 56). Scout loves that Maudie is able to get her hands dirty during the day and become ladylike at night, and nobody judges her for it.

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Specifically, Miss Maudie shows special favor to Scout and her companions Jem and Dill. Setting forth irresistible kindness, she commands, "Jem Finch, I called to find out if you and your colleagues can eat some cake. Got up at five to make it, so you better say yes" (287). Miss Maudie's loving heart impacts not only Scout but also all those around her.

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