I love rereading To Kill A Mockingbird, and unlike Catcher in the Rye, it's still one of my favorites. I think the major difference for me is that I still see Scout as somewhat of a hero in the novel, as opposed to Holden who I felt detached to now. Although I found Scout to be an amazing character, I'm definitely noticing this time how her character brings up the role of girls/women during the time period. There is this constant question of what it means to be a girl throughout the novel. At first Scout resents being a girl, she tries everything in her power to stop Jem from ever saying she's like a girl. Then, it even gets discussed amongst family members on the way that Scout does not behave like a proper girl with her inappropriate language and lack of dress wearing. Through all these questions though, this actually makes the character of Atticus shine for me as well.
It's obvious that Atticus is not like other fathers, but this is what makes him so endearing. He isn't like the adults in Catcher in the Rye, even though it seems he is absent from Jem and Scouts life a lot. However, he is there whenever his children need him and it's his consistent and warming talks to his children that make him such a profound character. Plus, I love that fact that Atticus isn't like everyone else trying to fit Scout into this ideal girl, he just lets her test the waters out for herself and supports her the best way he can from drowning. Instead of resentment like Holden had for his parents, Jem and Scout admire their father in so many ways. Makes me wonder what Atticus's character is saying about women in the novel, but that's a thought for me to come back to.
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