Children look up to their elders for wisdom and advice. They rely on someone experienced and with authority for guidance on how to live their lives. However, sometimes the people who are accountable for youth mislead them; they may have good intentions, but are not mature enough to exemplify their values and morals, or they simply are ignorant. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra plays a negative role: she is a proper, southern lady with a strict code of behaviour and etiquette, but is too closed-minded and obstreperous to change her ways or view the world from others’ perspectives. Calpurnia takes on the position of a positive role model by disciplining the children in the Finch household. Miss Maudie takes on the role of a motherly companion, who shares warmth and words of wisdom with Jem and Scout Finch. Aunt Alexandra is a negative influence on Jem and Scout. She is a refined lady with great knowledge about good conduct, and tries to impose this especially on Scout in ways that are unsuccessful and even hazardous to her growth and self esteem. She is strongly opposed to Scout’s attire which consists of overalls and pants, and demands that she act lady-like by changing into a skirt or dress. She is making Scout conform to the ideal vision of a stereotypical girl in the Nineteen-Thirties, which gives Scout a message that her individuality is unacceptable. “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches…” (Lee, 81). Aunt Alexandra’s scathing presence is further revealed in the novel where her aversion to black people is evident. She dislikes Calpurnia and bosses her around, and thinks that Atticus defending Tom Robinson is shameful to the fa... ... middle of paper ... ... so she is softer and deals with their shortcomings in an age-appropriate way. Miss Maudie is the most motherly because of her amiable nature. “She loved everything that grew in God’s earth, even the weeds…” (Lee, 42), “Miss Maudie’s benevolence…” (Lee, 43). In conclusion, Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie are each responsible for Jem and Scout Finch’s growth and maturity throughout the novel, and they each have different impacts that could be either positive or negative. Aunt Alexandra tends to their behavioural and appearance inadequacies, which are superficial, but Calpurnia and Miss Maudie nurture strong moral capacities and teach them necessary life lessons, respectively, to help them mature into honourable people who always do the right thing. Works Cited Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York NY: Warner Books, Hachette Book Group USA, 1960.
To kill a mockingbird is a book where you can witness a constant growth of morality in the character Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch. Scout lives with her father, Atticus Finch, her brother, Jeremy Atticus ‘Jem’ Finch, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. She is intelligent and, by the standards of her time and place, a tomboy. Since her mother died when she was about two years old she was raised by Atticus, her father, he is a lawyer with unquestionably strong moral beliefs. He is widower with a dry sense of humor, Atticus has instilled in Jem and Scout his strong sense of morality and justice. An aspect that calls the attention to the book is that it is being told from a kid’s point of view and, this way you can see how they get more mature through the book’s leading and how their perspective changes with age and experiences.
Brought into the Finch household to teach and act as a female role model for young Scout, Aunt Alexandra begins by demonstrating to Scout Calpurniaís inferior position. For Aunt Alexandra, Calpurnia will not do as a role model for Scout. Aunt Alexandra from the beginning shows Scout who posses the power. "Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,' was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said(Lee 127).
In the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee in 1960, life in the town of Maycomb is very traditional. Most people have the same racial prejudices and live by certain rules, also referred to as ‘codes’ by Atticus Finch (p. 224). Aunt Alexandra is a good example as she is not from Maycomb but lives 20 miles away. When she comes to live with Atticus and his children, Jem and Scout, the town accepts her immediately for with her “boarding-school manners” (p.142), her ladylike behaviour and her enthusiastic involvement into the Missionary Circle and the ‘Maycomb Amanuensis Club’, she represents the ideal of a Maycomb woman.
4. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee displays the main character Scout as a tomboy, however her Aunt Alexandra wants to teach Scout what it is like to be more elegant and ladylike, this is portrayed back in chapter nine when the following is said, “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of [her] attire. [She] could not possibly hope to be a lady if [she] wore breeches... She said [she] wasn’t supposed to be doing things that require pants.” (Page 108) This demonstrates that she would like Scout to be perceived more as a lady than she is now since Atticus has been raising Scout and letting her do whatever she would like and mainly is brought up just around boys with the exception of Calpurnia. In the novel the main character,
In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Aunt Alexandra is the aunt of Jem and Scout, and the sister of Atticus. Aunt Alexandra portrays the themes of racism and ignorance throughout the novel. Jem and Scout do not like Aunt Alexandra. “… Aunt Alexandra would have been analogous to Mount Everest: throughout my early life, she was cold and there.” (Lee 103). Aunt Alexandra is from the old south and she expects people to act formally and maturely. Aunt Alexandra lives with Scout and impacts Scout’s life by telling Scout how to act. “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. When I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.” (108). Aunt Alexandra also displays
In the historical fiction novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the two characters Atticus and Aunt Alexandra provide a different point of view towards being a proper southern lady. As a proper southern lady, Aunt Alexandra believes Scout needs to become more lady-like and dress more like a woman, but Atticus believes that Scout should do and wear whatever makes her happiest. Overall, the lesson that Atticus teaches Scout is more valuable because Atticus shows that a person does not have to change their looks, ways, or beliefs for other people’s approval or happiness.
When Aunt Alexandra first arrived at the Finch house, she took over as if she had been living there her whole life. When arriving home, Jem and Scout found her, “sitting in a rocking chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.”(p. 168). From the very beginning, Aunt Alexandra felt she should be completely in charge. The first thing she said was, “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,’” (p. 169). Aunt Alexandra treated Calpurnia as if Calpurnia was her servant. Aunt Alexandra was a strong influence within the Finches home, from the beginning. It did not do much of anything in the end, yet Jem and Scout saw a different side of their father, Atticus. “Atticus suddenly grew serious. In his lawyer’s voice, without a shade of affection, he said: ‘Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon [Jem] and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding−’”(p. 177). This may have been one of the first times that the children...
Firstly, Scout grows and changes throughout the novel by becoming more open to adopting a feminine persona. Aunt Alexandra’s main goal in her stay was to unfold a feminine influence upon Jem and Scout. After the events of Tom Robinsons court case she had a tea party
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 50th Anniversary ed. New York: Grand Central, 1982. Print.
emotionally, intellectually, and morally. Parents provide children with guidance and care that will continue to influence them long after they leave childhood. As a result, it is always hard for those who lose a biological parent. However, others may step in as parental figures. This is the case in To Kill A Mockingbird; Calpurnia acts in the absence of Scout and Jem’s mother. Calpurnia is a strong motherly figure towards Scout and Jem. The children thrive under Calpurnia’s care, her unwavering commitment, and her valuable discipline.
Unfortunately, this event causes the kids to have to put up with constant nagging from the gossiping motor-mouth that is their aunt. Even with Calpurnia around, Atticus, “… decided that it would be best for [Scout] to have some feminine influence” (Lee 170). In spite of this, Alexandra would have no need to come to Maycomb if the womanly influence of the Finch mother was present. Aunt Alexandra’s appearance would be reduced to almost none if Jem and Scout’s mom was alive during this time. Not only would the children’s relationship with their aunt be altered, but their relationship with each other would be as
The story “To Kill a Mockingbird” is about Scout Finch and her family and how they are affected throughout the court case of Tom Robinson. In chapters 12-15 of the novel Atticus is preparing for the court case of Tom Robinson. Aunt Alexandra also decided that she is going to stay with them for a while so she could give Scout and Jem a “feminine influence”. Jem and Scout go to church with Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra doesn’t like it. Dill shows up after running away from home because he says his parents aren’t paying enough attention to him. Aunt Alexandra tries to push Atticus into getting rid of Calpurnia but Atticus refuses. A group shows up outside their house and talk with Atticus. Atticus goes to Tom Robinson's cell and the kids follow.
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus' sister. She moves to live with Scout and Jem because she wants to teach them the right way of growing up since their mom is dead. As she watches them grow up, she grows up mentally also. “People up there set them free, but you don't see them setting at the table with them. At least we don't have the deceit to say to them ‘yes, you are as good as we are but stay away from us’ said Mrs.
Or they could think that that was the normal and “right” thing to do and think. How Aunt Alexandra talks about Atticus’s case with Tom Robinson. How how Atticus is turning into a nigger-lover and discracing the family. This could cause Scout and Jem to think that what Atticus is doing is wrong when it’s not. Also Aunt Alexandra would not be a good mother figure because she is does has excepting of Scout as Calpurnia is. Calpurnia wanted Scout to be comfortable with who she is. When Aunt Alexandra is trying to force Scout into wanting to become a lady, and be interested in boys and clothes. Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to represent the Finch family name more so than she already is. “Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jem Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding” (Lee 177). Also Aunt Alexandra does not approve of how Atticus has been raising Jem and Scout and thinks that they need a female around the house. Aence why she moves over there trmporairly. Ultimently one can see that Calpurnia ia a better mother figure than Aunt
Atticus and Aunt Alexandra : How would you describe Atticus and Alexandra Finch? These are two very different type of people with different futures for the children while they may want the same thing, they both have very different methods than the other person. A big conflict for Scout would be her relationship with her aunt. Aunt Alexandra is a very poised and put together older women. She applies a heavy amount of makeup even when the weather is ridiculously hot just to show how focused and mannered women she is, even wearing a heavy corset everyday. The Finches are on a high pedestal higher than most other families in the county , at some point she tries to tell Scout about the way she carries and applies herself to everything that she