What characteristics are displayed by the ladies in the missionary circle in To Kill a Mockingbird? How does Miss Maudie make her feelings known to the women? 

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lynnebh | High School Teacher | (Level 3) Senior Educator

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The missionary ladies are stereotypes. They are presented as a group for the purpose of emphasizing the hypocrisy that is so much a part of this novel. The ladies have been discussing the plight of "those poor Mrunas" (indigenous people supported by their church) and how wonderful it is that Christian people have sent missionaries there (J. Grimes Everett) to lift them from their squalor. Simultaneously, however, they show their racism towards the blacks in their own town. This is a great quote that says it all:



In this case, they are referring to the outcome of the trial, in which Tom Robinson was convicted in spite of Atticus' brilliant defense. The blacks in town were not happy about the outcome and were "sulking" about it, as she says.

Note the irony in this quote:


The ladies are criticizing the northerners (like Eleanor Roosevelt) for being hypocritical towards blacks, claiming that THEY (the missionary women) are superior because at least they are up-front and honest about the way they treat blacks, even if it is with prejudice.

Miss Maudie is watching all of this with disdain. She makes many curt comments to let the ladies know she does not agree with their views. When Mrs. Merriweather tells the ladies about a conversation she had with Brother Hutson regarding blacks, Maudie replies:

"His food doesn't stick going down, does it?"

The missionary ladies also serve as a foil to Scout's character - a tomboy in the midst of genteel ladies. They ask Scout if she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. She replies she wants to be a lady, and Miss Stephanie Crawford says:


Also look at the description of the ladies at the beginning of chapter 24 - they wear hats just to go across the street, they all wear the same color lipstick, etc.

You can find many additional examples in this chapter.

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