The last line of chapter 13 is showing how Scout views a girl, and how she dresses. On page 179 Scout thought. “ It takes a woman to do that kind of work.” What Scout is trying to show is that from Aunt Alexandra, she has learned that a woman will cost a family more than what any injury would cost them. Scout is also trying to show that the clothes that Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to wear will cost Atticus a lot of money. However the last line on page 179 could be Harper Lee’s way of showing Scouts distaste in ladylike business.
This shows the influence that Aunt Alexandra has passed down to Scout, although Scout is a tomboy she has tried to not listen to Aunt Alexandra advice on how to be more ladylike. I also think that this a foreshadow because it could be showing that Scout is branching away from her childish ways. Harper Lee did include this moment because it is showing how Scout is reaching maturity.
Questions
Will Aunt Alexandra cause a major change in how Jem and Scout act? Will Scout follow the ways of her Aunt? How would Aunt Alexandra have reacted if she heard Scout say the last line on page 179?
When I first read this line I did not get it at all, I still didn't get it the second time, however, after rereading the conversation between Atticus and Jem and Scout knowing the last sentence it became clearer. "Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people..." First of all, he says "your aunt" as his first words clearly stating that it is not his opinion that Jem and Scout should start to live up to the Finch name. He also struggles with his words showing that he is uncomfortable with the situation. These points combined lead me to think that the final sentence: "I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a women to do that kind of work," is about teaching Scout to be a lady. Atticus is a man, thus he would know nothing about this. It is a lady's work.
ReplyDeleteI think that Aunt Alexandra will change Jem and Scout by force. In past chapters, you have been able to notice that she is very particular about Jem, and particularly Scouts attitude. So, in the long run, I think that this will be a major change in Jem and Scout's lifestyle. I think that Scout has potential to be more "lady-like," but she is far from there. She is still in her phase of being a tom-boy, which she is slowly growing out of. I think that Aunt Alexandra is an important character in To Kill a Mockingbird, because she is the strict mother figure that the kids never had. She will keep them aligned when Atticus and Cal don't. Although she may be tough, I think in the long run she will end up helping the kids a lot.
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