feel different in Maycomb County. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee examines the theme of prejudice and how when times get rough it brings out the true colors in people. In the novel, Atticus’s sister, Alexandra, comes to live with them for a while, but in the end it turns out to be a bigger mistake than anyone intended. Aunt Alexandra is being prejudice against Calpurnia, the Finches helper. Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church one fine Sunday morning. Calpurnia is an African American and she attends an all African-American church. Once Aunt Alexandra finds out about them going to an African-American church she becomes very furious with them. She tells Jem and Scout that they cannot return to that church with Calpurnia …show more content…
This is another type of prejudice, it is called class prejudice. Aunt Alexandra is trying to change Jem and Scout from acting the way that they do. She's trying to strip the morals that have already been taught and embedded in their brain. She wants them to act as a higher class in which they are. “I had an idea, however, that Alexandra's appearance on the scene was not so much Atticus's doing as her. Aunty had a way of declaring What Is Best For The Family, and I suppose her coming to live with us was in that category (171).” In this quote Scout is explaining how she thinks that having Aunt Alexandra come live with them was not so much Atticus's idea, more so Aunt Alexandra's idea. Aunt Alexandra already had her way of doing things and she wanted Jem and Scout to act the way that she does. She wants them to do “ What Is Best For The Family”. Scout and Jem did not understand why Aunt Alexandra wanted them to change. Aunt Alexandra forbids Scout and Jem from playing with Walter Cunningham because he does not fit in their social class. His family does not match the Finches family and their fine family history. People see them as not a high-class like everyone else but not low enough to be like the African American people. “Jean Louise, there is no doubt in my mind that they’re good folks. But they're not our kind of folks. The thing is, you can scrub Walter …show more content…
The name of the young caucasian female that he” raped” is Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson is a African American and Mayella liked him so, she tried to go for him. Instead of standing up to what she did, she would rather lie on the stand and have innocent African-American man locked up in jail and potentially killed. “You seem sure enough that he choked you. All this time you were fighting back, remember? You ‘kicked and hollered as loud as you could.’ Do you remember him beating you about the face?” “No, I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me.” “Huh? Yes, he hit-- I just don’t remember, I just don’t remember . . . it all happened so quick ( 247-248).” Mayella was on the stand testifying to what Tom Robinson had did. While she was testifying she kept looking at her father and was hesitant about every answer that she made as if she was trying to come up with the correct answer. While Atticus is questioning Mayella he has to keep repeating the same questions over because she does not seem sure about her answers. If Tom Robinson genuinely did take advantage of Mayella she would possibly be able to talk about what happened with no hesitation. If Mr. Ewell took advantage of his own daughter and wanted to put it on a African American man then that would make more sense. They would of had to go over what they were going to say and have believable stories. While Tom Robinson was moved to the
Along with these stereotypes comes racism. Jem and Scout first experience racism against them when Calpurnia takes them to her church one Sunday. Another member of Calpurnia’s church berates Calpurnia for bringing Jem and Scout into an all-black church. Calpurina refuses to let berating change her mind about allowing the children to attend her church. Rather than allow the children to go home as Jem suggests, Calpurnia challenges the racism against white people and proclaims that the children are her “comp’ny” (Lee 158). Throughout the novel Calpurnia models the respect that Atticus expects his children to show. Calpurnia complies with her hospitality whenever she is given the opportunity. In his article “Race in To Kill a Mockingbird” Chris Gonzalez refers to Calpurnia’s hospitality as “a great equalizer of
Scout, the young girl in To Kill a Mockingbird, has to try to make her aunt appreciate the qualities she has, but her uncle already does more than that. All Aunt Alexandra wants is for Scout to be more ladylike and similar to herself. Harpers Lee’s novel demonstrates how Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jack are polar opposites with their opinion of Scout, through Uncle Jack’s understanding, and Aunt Alexandra disapproval of her actions and relationship.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra changes throughout her stay at the Finch’s house, and Scout shows growth by becoming a mature person. During chapter 24, Aunt Alexandra hosts the tea party and invites people from Maycomb to join. She allows Scout to sit in and join the gathering because she thought Scout would get bored on her own. Towards the beginning of the trial, Aunt Alexandra gets furious at Atticus for choosing a case that defends a black person because it is contrary everything they believe in and “disgrace the family.”
When Aunt Alexandra came to town more than once Scout struggled with her. One time Scout asked Atticus if she could go to church with Calpurnia to which Aunt Alexandra replied no. Scout threw a fit and was scolded by Atticus. Scout later followed Jem upstairs and scolded her too: “Scout, try not to antagonize Aunty, hear?’ … My feathers rose again. ‘You tryin’ to tell me what to do?’” (137). Jem feels that he is doing the right thing by telling Scout to leave Aunt Alexandra alone, but that’s not how Scout sees it. Scout thinks that he has no right to tell her what to do.
Atticus taught his children from a young age to not judge others on whom a person appears to be. Scout and Jem reflect this quote throughout the book. It helps Scout better understand why Atticus took Tom’s case and it matured both her and Jem, it’s a lesson that not even Atticus’s sister (Aunt Alexandra) knows. This is proven when Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. Scout and Jem enjoyed it immensely and even chose to sit by the reverend during the court case. Aunt Alexandra has a fit when she learns that the children went to a “black church”, proving that the children had matured beyond their
Scout is a very strong and independent character who believes in who she is. She does not allow anyone to push her around even if that means she has to settle an argument in an immature way such as fist fights. Scout is unlike many girls in her town. She likes to play outside,wear pants and she doesn’t like to play with teasets or dolls. This appalls many adults who are not understanding of why Scout is different from the other girls. Many neighbors and relatives put the blame on Atticus for “not raising her right”. Atticus is often criticized because he took a different role in life than his siblings and left the Finch landing. The Finch Landing is a huge farm run by workers paid slim to none. Atticus’s siblings, Alexandra and Jack stayed at the farm and took in the money and watched the workers work. Generations and generations of Finches had done this with the exception of Atticus. Instead he felt there was more to life and decided to go to school and become a lawyer. He is now raising Scout and Jem. With Scout’s mom dead, many people feel they need to intervene with Atticus’s parenting to play a mother figure. Alexandra plays a big part in this and sits Scout down to chat. Alexandra tells Scout that she
When Aunt Alexandra notices how Atticus disciplines his children, she reacts and tells him to change it: "Atticus, it's all right to be soft hearted, you’re an easy man, but you have a daughter to think of" (pg. 182). Atticus doesn't approve of Aunt Alexandra's ways and views but he never contradicted her and proved her wrong. He simply accepted her beliefs because he knows she's entitled to believe whatever she wants. So when Scout talked back to her aunt, Atticus tells her to still obey and respect Aunt Alexandra: "Let's get this clear: you do as Calpurnia tells you, you do as I tell you, and as long as your aunt's in the house you will do as she tells you" (pg. 182). Atticus respects Aunt Alexandra and her opinions, meaning he understands and accepts her.
In the era of this book girls, young ladies and women are given a certain etiquette to follow, a role. This is present in Scout and jem's Aunt Alexandra. “You have to do something about her.” (Lee ) Alexandra is having a heated conversation with Scout's father , Atticus, about Scout’s lacking of proper “lady-like” behavior. Alexandra was raised at the original Finch Landing residence, where racism was supported and also a cold, cruel heart, a tough outer shell.
As referenced in the text, “I said I would like it very much, which was a lie, but one must lie under certain circumstances and at all times when one can’t do anything about them. ‘We felt it was time you children needed - well, it’s like this, Scout,’ Atticus said. ‘You aunt’s doing me a favor as well as you all. I can’t stay here all day with you, and the summer’s going to be a hot one.’ [...] I had an idea, however, that Aunt Alexandra’s appearance on the scene was not so much Atticus’s doing as hers.
She learned to accept people no matter how they looked. Whenever she judged someone, Atticus helped her understand a person by keeping in mind a simple but meaningful phrase, "…if you learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. " Chapter 3, pg. 30. Aunt Alexandra was always concerned with family background and constantly judged people based on it, "I never understood her preoccupation with heredity.
“Atticus said one time the reason Aunty’s so hipped on the family is because we’ve got’s background and not a dime to our names” (Lee 302) Aunt Alexandra compares her family, the Finches, as the best family. The reason why is “because we’ve got’s background and not a dime to our names.” (Lee 302) “Aunty brought me my overalls. “Put these on, darling,” she said, handing me the garments she most despised,” (Lee 354) Once Aunt Alexandra put herself in Scout’s shoes, she knew that giving her her overalls were going to comfort her after Bob Ewell tried to kill her. By doing so, she was able to comfort Scout and make her feel better. Though there is a huge reputation with family, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is true because everyone is
Racism is witnessed many times throughout Scout's life, but not many times through her family as Atticus believes all people are equal. The only times she really sees it in her household is when Aunt Alexandra gets there. Jem and Scout talk to each other about what Aunt Alexandra says to Atticus and it shows her views. “She won’t let him alone about Tom Robinson. She almost said Atticus was disgracin’ the family. Scout… I’m scared.’ ‘Scared’a what?’ ‘Scared about Atticus. Somebody might hurt him”(167). Not only does this quote show her views about a different race, it also shows her directing her thoughts towards Atticus. She is trying to guilt Atticus into changing his mind and to keep the Finch family legacy going strong. This method of persuasion obviously does not work on Atticus, as he continues with the trial, despite Aunt Alexandra’s perspective on the
One thing they are is a happy family. This is all that matters in life, to be happy because it can be taken from you with the snap of the fingers. The Finch’s, in Aunt Alexandra’s book, are not a fine family. Someone would say that Atticus, letting Scout run around with the boys , and wear overalls and such is dishonorable. Yes, at one point we all need to grow up, but they are kids. Happiness only comes around once in awhile and they should grab while they can. Scout is different, but isn’t everyone. These are the things that makes us unique. This goes to show that Aunt Alexandra gets what she wants no matter the consequences. This doesn’t make her a good influence on Scout or Jem because they need to look up to someone who cares about others and what’s going on around them. Atticus does this by taking the Tom Robinson case. He cares about what influence he has on his kids. He knew it wouldn't be right to just let this man die for a crime he mostly likely didn’t commit. Even though this case isn’t an easy one and will most likely lose he takes it. Something people might also say is that back in the old days a women would get nowhere without acting like a part of society. Scout’s life would be much easier if she put on a dress and acted how a girl should back then, but she doesn’t and because of that a difference is being made. Society evolves because of change without it we would be no where. Scout is just the start of people going against all the feminism. She can wear overalls and still be treated with respect. She’s a good person and deserves to dress and act like she wants to. Aunt Alexandra doesn’t understand that change can be good. That you don’t have to act like someone you're not. Family name and importance is not as important as making your family happy. Aunt Alexandra isn’t a good influence because she doesn’t care about what Jem and Scout
Believe it or not, this case is “as simple as black and white” being literal and figurative because it is obvious Tom never raped Mayella Ewell and there are no shades of grey. The answer is sitting right in front of the jury and Bob Ewell being the answer; he raped his own daughter Mayella for the reason being that she kissed a black man. Scout finally understood the point of Mr. Underwood’s editorial: “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case, Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (Lee 276). As soon as the case was taken to court, the outcome had already been decided; Tom Robinson according to the jury was a guilty man. This acquit is only because Robinson is a black man; it is in reality only the beginning of his journey because Tom Robinson has much more racism to face in the
Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters develop and mature in unique ways. Boo, who fears talking to others, Aunt Alexandra, who is against people of other races or social classes, and Scout, who is young and is not aware of life’s challenges, constantly suppress their emotions and personality. Their life choices and decisions that they make throughout the book, lead them to be more accepting of others and less prejudice. As the book progresses, Boo, Aunt Alexandra, and Scout learn life lessons and develop into mature adults.