I think the body part that best represents Miss Maudie in To Kill a Mockingbird would have to be her false teeth--her bridgework. Miss Maudie has
... two minute prongs clipped to her eyeteeth...
which Scout loves to see removed from her mouth. Scout "admired them" so much that she hopes to have a pair herself one day. Miss Maudie seems to understand this, and
With a click of her tongue she thrust out her bridgework, a gesture of cordiality that cemented our friendship.
The teeth not only symbolize Maudie's independent and sometimes eccentric behavior, but they also serve to show the words of wisdom that she often presents in the form of advice to Jem and Scout. Like Atticus, she answers the children's questions truthfully; unlike Miss Stephanie, she never resorts to gossip. She faithfully defends Atticus and explains to Jem and Scout why he is the most important man in all of Maycomb.
No comments:
Post a Comment