Saturday, October 28, 2017

How did Miss Maudie feel about her house burning down in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Contrary to what you might expect, Miss Maudie seems relatively unfazed when her house burns down. In fact, she seems almost glad that it collapses in a fiery inferno. This unconventional reaction shows that Miss Maudie is different from the average Maycomb citizen, thus setting her up to be an important ally later on in the novel. 


When Scout asks Miss Maudie if she's mourning her recently burned-down house, the Finch's neighbor surprises her by...

Contrary to what you might expect, Miss Maudie seems relatively unfazed when her house burns down. In fact, she seems almost glad that it collapses in a fiery inferno. This unconventional reaction shows that Miss Maudie is different from the average Maycomb citizen, thus setting her up to be an important ally later on in the novel. 


When Scout asks Miss Maudie if she's mourning her recently burned-down house, the Finch's neighbor surprises her by replying, "I hated that old cow barn. Thought of settin' fire to it a hundred times myself" (77). This is obviously an unusual reaction, but it shows how little Miss Maudie cares for the things that other, so-called "normal" people care for. Rather than seeing her house as a financial asset or as a symbol of her social status, she merely saw it as a nuisance, as one more burden to shoulder. Given her independent attitude, it's no surprise that Miss Maudie becomes an important ally when the Finch children struggle to navigate the prejudices of Maycomb's citizens during the Tom Robinson trial.

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