When Jem and Scout come home from
church with Calpurnia, they are surprised to find Aunt Alexandra sitting on
their porch, rocking in the chair as if she’d lived there forever. As soon as
she sees them, she immediately starts giving them orders and criticizing
Scout. “Put my bag in my bedroom, Calpurnia,” and “Jean Louise, stop scratching
your head. (p.169)” Aunt Alexandra feels entitled to their household, and
doesn’t understand that it’s not her home. She is obsessed with the Finch
Family image, and feels as though because they share the same last name, she
has the right to interfere with the Finch children’s lives. Whenever Aunt
Alexandra sees Scout she calls her by her real name, Jean Louise, and orders
her to be more demure and ladylike. All Scout wants is to wear her overalls and
play in the mud, but her Aunt won’t accept that. She has a certain way she
wants the Finches to be portrayed and feels as though Scout ruins their image,
even though Scout’s lack of a mother is not hurting her. The fact that Atticus
is a single dad has made Scout and Jem more responsible and able to fend for
themselves without having to conform to the social structure of Maycomb.
However, Aunt Alexandra “fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a
glove, but never into the world of Jem and me. (p.175)” While Aunt Alexandra
has no trouble fitting into the community, she has yet to make a true
connection with either Scout or Jem.
It is really important to Aunt
Alexandra that the Finch kids know their family history. When she comes to town
she makes many attempts to teach them about their family, and even pressures
Atticus into teaching them as well. When Atticus attempts to inform them about
their history Scout gets upset. “This was not my father. My father never
thought these thoughts… Aunt Alexandra had put him up to this, somehow. (p.178)”
The impact Aunt Alexandra has on the Finch Family’s life is not a positive one because it causes Scout and Jem to question their relationship with Atticus.
Harper Lee brings Aunt Alexandra into the story because she wants to show that
the kids don’t need a mother to be successful, and Atticus’ unique parenting
style is what makes Jem and Scout who they are.
Why do you think Harper Lee has Aunt Alexandra come to town
right before the trial begins?
Will Scout get used to her Aunt, or will her
resentment towards her only grow stronger?
I think Harper Lee brought Aunt Alexandra into the story again as a motherly figure for the trial. She symbolizes Scout's coming of age. Her beliefs will help transform Scout into more of a grown up proper lady. It is similar to when Jem was crying on the porch now Scout is in between childhood and adult life. Ulike Jem Aunt Alexandra is forcing her to grow up quicker. Scout will not approve of this, but she will change anyways for her Atticus to gain respect from Aunt Alexandra.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think Scout will handle this new environment? How will life be different with more than one motherly figure in the house?
In my opinion, Harper Lee brought in Aunt Alexandra to show how unique the way Atticus, Jem, and Scout ideas are compared to other citizens of Maycomb and even their own family. Atticus, Jem, and Scout's ideas are unique because, besides Miss. Maudie they are probably the only people in Maycomb that are not prejudice. They will except anyone that may be different including African American people. When it comes to the Tom Robinson case, Atticus specifically shows his different thoughts through standing up for Tom Robinson and using a tremendous amount of effort to show to the all white jury that Tom is innocent, even though Atticus knows they will probably not win the case. Harper Lee brought in Aunt Alexandra to emphasize how different the ways of Atticus, Scout , and Jem are compared to even their own family members.
ReplyDeleteHow are the kids affected by the Tom Robinson case? Specifically do you think Scout understands what is going on with the case? Why or why not?