Final answer:
Mattie's impression of Johnny is not explicitly stated in the provided excerpts, making a direct comparison with the girls' descriptions challenging. The texts reflect on the superficial judgments based on appearance and behavior, revealing how society often values women. There is a broader theme of immediate perceptions and a suggestion of critique toward the depiction of female characters in literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question about how Mattie's impression of Johnny compares with the girls' description invites an examination of character perceptions and development in the text. From the excerpts provided, it is apparent that Mattie's impression of Johnny is not directly described, making it challenging to compare with the girls' descriptions. However, in exploring how characters view one another, we see a recurring theme of impressions and the superficial judgments that characters make based on appearance and behavior. For instance, the text reflects upon a woman from fifty years ago, who left an impression of being thin and colorless. The woman's true nature remains ambiguous, hidden behind a perceived mask. In another account, Mr. Boldin seems to appreciate the dutiful and compliant nature of the young girl mentioned, highlighting her willingness and contrastingly, her desirability to social norms at her age.
Within these narratives, characters often base their views on immediate perceptions rather than deep understanding, suggesting a critique of how society evaluates women. Whereas Johnny's perception by Mattie remains unstated, the girls offer tangible opinions on the other female characters, often focusing on physical attributes and societal expectations rather than intrinsic qualities. The examination of these perceptions and the question of whether female characters are adequately developed and plausible can lead to a broader discussion on the depiction of men and women within literary works and the potential biases of the authors of these narratives.