The community of Maycomb in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has stereotypes that young girls and women do not have the capacity to make up their own mind and choose their own path in life. These stereotypes have formed the societal expectations for the roles of young women. In Maycomb County, the expectations are formed by society's need to have uniformity. Many people in Maycomb have narrow minds, therefore anything different creates disorder in their community. As Scout defies the stereotype that girls do not have the capacity to chose what they want in life, some of the citizens of Maycomb take it into their own hands to show her what is socially acceptable. Role models in Scout’s life help shape how she views the expectations of women. …show more content…
Growing up around Atticus, Scout is taught it is acceptable to not always follow the expectations and opinions of others. Scout learns that it is important to fight societal normals, if it means following what you believe. When the trial of Tom Robinson comes closer, Scout starts to hear the opinions of others about Atticus defending a black man. Before the trial in summer Scout goes to Atticus worried about what kids at school are saying towards him and he explains that, “‘The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience’”(87). Atticus explains to Scout that even though most of Maycomb believes it is unacceptable to defend a black man in a rape case, she is allowed to see it as morally right. Knowing what is right is entirely different than doing what is right. Atticus is one of the few citizens in Maycomb that uses his conscience to shape what he does. He knows it is the right thing to do is to defend Tom, no matter what the color of his skin is. Other people's opinions don’t block Atticus from expressing his own thoughts and values. He teaches Scout to follow her own path by doing what she values, not what others want her to do. Throughout her stay in Maycomb, Atticus’s sister, whose values contrast dramatically from his, tries to impress upon Scout that that it’s essential to follow societal norms for the way women should act.
Aunt Alexandra sees the importance of others opinions because she believes that they shape the way you live your life. She wants Scout to conform to the idea of what the community has created to be the ideal way for how young women should represent themselves. When she comes to Maycomb, one of her goals is to turn Scout from a child into a young lady. While staying with the Finches, she has a group of women come to the house to socialise and gossip. This is how women are expected to use their time, to sit around together and chatter away. As Scout attempts to escape from the ladies meaningless talking, Alexandra tells Scout, “‘Stay with us Jean Louise [Scout],’... This was a part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady”(195). Alexandra wants to influence Scout to fit into the community’s societal norms, because the way that Scout acts is a reflection of the Finch family values and how they raise their children. Aunt Alexandra does not like the reflection Scout is giving onto their family name. She did not seem to care how Scout felt, but care how others see …show more content…
her. Even with Aunt Alexandra pushing expectations onto Scout, Atticus does not expect her to conform.
This creates conflict between how to raise and set an example for her. Aunt Alexandra not only wants Scout to live up to the expectations of the Finch family, but also wants Atticus to assist her in enforcing them. Atticus unwillingly attempts to inform Scout about how to act and lists all of the ways a Finch should present themselves. Scout, nervous and confused that Atticus is changing and not acting himselfs she remarks solemnly, “‘You really want us to do all that? I can’t remember everything Finches are supposed to do…’ ‘I don't want you to remember it. Forget it.’”(113) Seeing the anxiety in Scout that expectations cause quickly makes Atticus realize that the way others see her it not important if it that means traumatising Scout. The pressure put onto Atticus by Aunt Alexandra to drive her into conforming did not change his values of self individuality. With influence from Aunt Alexandra and the community about expectations, Atticus seems to be the only one wanting what Scout wants. He wants her to live her life, her way. Aunt Alexandra believes that the only way Scout can be her best is to live up to expectations. Their opposing opinions create two drastically different views that Scout gets to see both sides of. Atticus is not expecting Scout to conform, but because of the communities and Aunt Alexandra’s views that shape a large role in Scout’s life she might have
to. From both her father and aunt, Scout gets to experience the perspectives on conformity, and how they can have an effect on life in the future. She sees the significance of how not conforming to social norms can make life difficult, but also sees how important it is to go with her heart. At the tea party, Scout begins to understand that “There was no doubt about it, I must soon enter this world, where on its surface fragrant ladies rocked slowly, fanned gently, and drank cool water. But I was more at home in my father’s world”(189). Spending additional time in the society of Aunt Alexandra, Scout realizes what her role will be in the future. She does not want to conform since she knows how it feels to express her individuality. There is an internal struggle in Scout between following the expectations of others and her own path in life. The experience of being in Aunt Alexandra’s world gives Scout a better understanding of what her life will become in order to meet the societal demands of Maycomb. The people that are in Scout Finch's life influence how she sees and interprets the world around her. Atticus shows her how to be open minded and embrace what makes her an individual. When Aunt Alexandra comes to Maycomb, Scout sees what it meant to conform to other’s expectations and how that can shape her life. There are different paths to follow that lead to opposite lives. Being an individual means society will view her separate. Forming to others expectations is the path that many community members want Scout to follow. Being exposed to the two opposing worlds Scout slowey sees which one she wants to follow and which one she should. It seems Scout has a choice of where her life will lead, but digging deeper into the community there is only one path. Not fulfilling the expectations of society will have consequences later on in Scout’s life. By conforming, Scout’s individuality within her will be suppressed and the world around will finally accept and embrace her, not for who she is, but for who they form her to become.
When Aunt Alexandra says, "Your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while,'" Scout and Jem know that she will make new rules and run the house her way. "Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me." Aunt Alexandra has very different ideas than Atticus about how to raise children, especially girls, and Scout knows that she will have to change to please her aunt.
The characters of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are all different in their own way. Sometimes they can seem like the most infuriating people in the world, but then again they can be helpful, loving, and caring. The citizens of Maycomb County are stereotyped a lot throughout the book. They are labeled as many different things, but some of the stereotypes made aren’t entirely correct. A lot of people in To Kill a Mockingbird stereotype others by the way they look or talk based on what society considers normal. Two of the main characters in the book are stereotyped; Scout and Atticus Finch.
Through the development of Scout’s relationship with Arthur Radley, Scout develops and becomes more empathetic. Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, is her most consistent role model and used by Lee as the moral compass. Atticus is a firm believer in teaching by example, and his respect of his children is such that he treats them almost as adults, emphasised in the line ‘he played with us, read with us, and treated us with courteous detachment’ pg. 6. This refusal to shelter Scout from the harsh realities of life in Maycomb allows her to learn from experience. The strong moral guidance offered by Atticus allows Scout not only to learn from experience, but also to develop her personal integrity. Atticus exemplifies his strong beliefs, as illustrated when he says ‘Shoot
There 's a point in everyone 's life when people are forced to wear a mask to hide their true selves. People want to fit into what they think is normal. Most of the time, the individual behind the mask is very different from what they are being perceived as. They can be evil and wicked, or they can be smart, loving, and caring. Characters in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee live through the Great Depression and Segregation. They all have qualities that make them unique in their own ways. In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, citizens are put under stereotypes all throughout the novel. Characters get assigned labels that aren 't entirely correct. Dolphus Raymond, Mayella Ewell, and Boo Radley are all products of what it looks
Aunt Alexandra recognizes Scout’s maturity when she invites Scout to a seemingly meaningless lady’s brunch. As Scout views the gathering,she understands that this is no ordinary brunch but it is a showcase of social talent. Scout remembers, “There was no part about it, I must soon enter this world” (Lee 267). In this quote Scout comes to the realization that being a lady is not only justified in actions but also in universally accepted social functions. It is here that Scout’s lessons in womanhood come full circle and she is able to embrace a part of her existence that she had brushed off for a long time. Mayella Ewell is a singular character that gives an important insight into understanding of lower classes but in a less literal sense she is an extension of Scout. Mayella is part of Scout that is arrogant,confused, and denies the truth of the adult world. As Aunt Alexandra constantly mentions, she will never befriend the Cunninghams “Don’t be silly, Jean Louise,”said Aunt Alexandra. “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines,you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem” (Lee 256). While in relation to Scout, Aunt Alexandra is portrayed as uptight, she is the ideal lady of
Why are different races and social classes treated so differently? Why was education so horrible at some points in time? Two of the characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird are Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout are growing up, they find out that many things are not as they seem. Certain people are not treated as well as others just because of the color of their skin, how they live, educational status, or even on just urban legend. At courthouses back then, blacks had to sit in a balcony. Many people in this time were so uneducated that they couldn’t read out of hymn books at church, if they had any. Harper Lee wrote a story to express the different kinds of prejudice and educational problems in the 1930’s in Maycomb County, Alabama.
Scout and Jem still are unable to accept her and are detached from her strong traditional southern views. As a result Atticus receives many criticism the way he brought up his children and is forced to act. 'Our Father was actually fidgeting. "No, I just want to explain to you that--your Aunt Alexandra asked me...son you know you 're a Finch, don 't you?" (177) However Jem and Scout notices this and become resentful towards the changed Atticus. As Atticus struggles with the Tom Robinson case, Aunt Alexandra plays the role of their mother since they only have Atticus “I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (170) however she also knows that instilling manners and acting as the motherly figure was the role of a woman, during that time period. Throughout the book, Atticus has struggled with the job of filling both the father and the mother. No matter how hard he tries, the roll of the mother can never be filled by Atticus. His character does not have the same personality traits that a mother would. All Scout needs is a loving mother, but when Aunt Alexandra comes, she does not nearly fill that role. She is even harsher and the spot still remains vacant. "...you 've got to do something about her," Aunty was saying. "You 've let things go on too long Atticus, too long” (36).This quote shows how Aunt Alexandra is demanding and looks as if she is trying to be the stricter side, which I dont think Scout needs "Atticus, it 's all right to be soft-hearted, you 're an easy man, but you have a daughter to think of." (136-137)I think Alexandra is totally wrong here. Scout does not like to listen to a demanding person telling her what to do. Instead of listening, she will simply do the opposite. A less harsh and caring mother would give Scout something more to mature. Alexandra is really into
Scout’s Aunt Alexandra helped develop Scout from tomboy to lady. For the most part confound Scout as she desires and wants to be a tomboy and wants to be free of Aunt Alexandra would like her to be more conservative and be bound by the traditions of the southern culture which she feels is incredibly important. The one moment where Scout really appears to be influenced by Aunt Alexandra is when Scout notices with some small amount of pride that in the midst of all the furor over the trial and other events in the town, Aunt Alexandra maintains her composure and her "lady-like" demeanor which Scout admires and feels she can learn from. Also Scout learns many negative aspects from Aunt Alexandra during
Aunt Alexandra challenges the demeanors of Jem and Scout wanting them to behave in a different way. “ ‘She [Aunt Alexandra] asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are’ ”. Both Jem and Scout express confusion to their fathers words. They do not understand why their father is asking them to do such a thing. Jem and Scout were raised by Atticus to treat everyone with respect and honesty. The children are understandably in a state of shock when Atticus tells them to change how they act. Atticus then tells the children “ ‘I don’t want you to remember it. Forget it.’ ”. He then leaves the room, presumably to talk with Aunt Alexandra. Atticus realizes that he would rather have his children be themselves then force upon the behaviors Aunt Alexandra desires. Atticus shows courage by willing to possibly tarnish the Finch name and go against his sister if it means that his children are
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
Throughout the story, Aunt Alexandra’s behaviors indirectly teach Scout that prejudice is a disease with deep and far reaching roots. As Scout is exposed to Aunt Alexandra’s ideas regarding the hierarchy of society, she also begins to understand why Aunt Alexandra holds such opinions. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the children, she also brings along her unending gossip about other families in Maycomb. Scout explains that “Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land, the finer it was” (173).
“‘You want to grow up to be a lady, don’t you?’ I said not particularly” (Lee). Jean Louise Finch is a tomboy growing up in a world where a girl is expected to become a lady. Submissive housewives and proper ladies were the expectations set for women in the time To Kill A Mockingbird took place. Scout Finch lived in a household that had a strong male influence; aside from Calpurnia, she had no real present example of what she was supposed to become. Because of this, Scout refused to conform to the ways of the rest of the women in Maycomb and the world (Lee 84).
The Southern women were told and obligated, by some code of southern conduct, to mature into fair-smelling, perfect "ladies." By "ladies" they meant women who were well mannered, good at embroidery, and wore frilly, lacy dresses. One example of this southern tradition occurs when Aunt Alexandra comes to the Finch residence to help Atticus raise his children during the trial. When first arriving she says to Scout, "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys." This comment implies that the only subjects girls are expected to understand are boys and clothes. Aunt Alexandra makes no mention of Jean Louise's intelligence, education, or personality. Her diction suggests that the only thing Jean Louise is capable of pursuing is her attire and a man. Scout discovers what a "southern lady" is as she notices how Aunt Alexandra "chose protective garments that drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra's was once an hour-glass figure." Scout was considered to be very improper, wearing overalls and pants, but Aunt Alexandra would still try and introduce her to other ladies. I assume that she did this to try and influence Scout. She hoped Scout would form lady-like habits by watching others. Another example takes place after the trial, when Jem is appalled at the decision the court makes in response to Tom Robinson's case.
“They’d been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed ’em, like somethin’ I’d try to do. All crooked” (Lee 58). The book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee has many different stereotypes that play into it. A stereotype, by Merriam-Webster definition is “an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic.” To Kill a Mockingbird is about three children named Scout, Jem, and Dill and is set during the Great Depression. Theses children are best friends and throughout the book they try to see a mysterious character named Boo Radley. He has many mysteries about himself that are constantly told by Maycomb’s adults. Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem’s daughter, has to defend a black man
As Aunt Alexandra has been living with the family she has started judging Scout's clothes, "I could not, possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could so nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants" (Lee 108). As Scout grows, up she faces the force of adulthood, which involves her becoming more lady like. Once Scout realizes that she has to give up part of her past, she feel reluctant to do so. Aunt Alexandra tries to push Scout into the family legacy, but instead Scout feels the need to hide from the reality of moving on which means growing up. Scout wants to be herself and not forced to be a "Finch". She doesn't want to be molded into something or someone that she's not. Scout escapes the pressures of being a "lady" by hanging out with her brother and Father, where she was more at "home" and not surrounded by "hypocrites"- fragrant ladies. Scout's need and desires to be herself are not acceptable within her community and it pains her to convert to becoming a "Finch", a stereotypical Southern