Although Jem and Scout are being brought up in a
one-parent household, they get far more attention from Atticus than Dill gets from both
of his parents in To Kill a Mockingbird. Dill's parents ship him
off to Maycomb each summer, presumably because they prefer to be without him for a few
months each year. Atticus spends as much free time with his children as possible and
advises them when he feels they are in need of it. Dill's mother apparently divorces her
first husband because the boy speaks of his new father later in the book. Neither of
them seem to have much inclination to spend time with him, however. Dill's parents
lavish him with more gifts and monetary favors than Atticus, but Jem and Scout seem to
sense that this is in return for their own lack of time and interest. Atticus gives his
children a large degree of independence for kids so young; Dill also is given more
freedom than most kids. However, Atticus does this in an effort for his children to
learn things on their own terms, while Dill is forced to do so because of his parents'
lack of hands-on participation.
No comments:
Post a Comment