Aunt Alexandra is very controling in her personality, she forces Scout, Atticus, and Jem to act the way that she thinks is correct. When Aunt Alexandra first shows up at the Finch's house, the kids are skeptical when she says "Your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while." (169) When Alexandra says this the kids are skeptical because it doesn't seem like Atticus decided on this, more like Alexandra declared she was coming. In example, Scout narrates, "I had an idea, however, that Aunt Alexandra's appearance on the scene was not so much Atticus's doing as her's." this implies that Aunt Alexandra demanded her appearance here, while Atticus may not have felt that it was appropriate.
At the end of the chapter when Atticus shows up in Jem's room when both Jem and Scout are there, he acts very uncomfortable, as if something were dearly wrong. Atticus was fidgeting during his presence there, a lawyer was fidgeting! Lawyers are trained and taught not to let any sign of discomfort show. Atticus was fidgeting because he did not agree with what he was about to tell them. Atticus said, "Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations' gentle breeding...and you should try to live up to your name... She wants you to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are... you might need to be moved accordingly." Jem and Scout quickly burst into tears. They hated Alexandra! They knew that this was here doing. As Scout had thought, "This was not my father. My father never thought these thoughts. Aunt Alexandra had put him up to this, somehow." This shows that Aunt Alexandra has a slight amount of control over Atticus. Aunt Alexandra is constantly changing their normal lifestyles and routines.
Aunt Alexandra may have a good amount of unwanted control over the children's lives -but her help is necessary. Aunt Alexandra, despite her many faults that Scout can happily point out, is family, and she does what she believes best for the children. Although her wanting for Scout to conform to society's image of a girl, she is only stating and attempting to impress upon her opinion. In a sense, I suppose she is in a similar situation as Miss Caroline.
ReplyDeleteIn the post, it is mentioned that Aunt Alexandra's presence is not Atticus'es decision, but Alexandra forcing her way into the household. However, I strongly disagree. Atticus is aging -he may have Calpurnia, but the more help is definitely appreciated. There is only a certain extent to which Atticus can do things, after all. Aunt Alexandra coming over to help out is a huge favor, and this is why Atticus says, "Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations' gentle breeding...and you should try to live up to your name... She wants you to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are... you might need to be moved accordingly." (151)Since she has been helping out so much, he believes that Scout and Jem owe it to her to listen, though Atticus himself may not think there is anything wrong with their ways. This again, shows Atticus'es moral values of respect. Do you think Atticus agrees with Aunt Alexandra? How do you think Aunt Alexandra feels about coming over and not being appreciated by the children? I feel pretty bad for her -after all, she's only there to help.
I think there was more to Atticus's lecture towards his children. His sister could have imposed her views upon him, but inside his own home she did not have the power to force him to do anything. After Atticus returned to his normal self, following his talk with the kids, Scout asked if he really wanted them to do that and he replied, "I don't want you to remember it. Forget it.” (179) Had Alexandra forced him into this he couldn't have backed down, but he changed his mind because he did not want to impose a lifestyle onto his children that they didn't want to live.
ReplyDeleteAtticus was telling his children who they where supposed to be in a less imposing. He did not use Aunt Alexandra's style of forcing her views down their throat, and had thought of the entire thing on his own. Scout realizes Atticus's feeble attempt at providing a motherly figure, but thinks it did not work because "It takes a man to do that kind of work." Atticus finally tried to raise his children, but he was unsuccessful, because he can't be sensitive enough to have a conversation like the one he attempted.
In response to Julie's first question, I don't believe that Atticus completely agrees with Aunt Alexandra but I do believe that he realizes that "It would be best for you (Jem and Scout) to have some feminine influence" (145). Remember that both Scout and Jem have grown up really without a mother and they are coming to a time in their lives when just having a father won't cut it. As Aunt Alexandra puts it, "It won't be too many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys," (145). Although Scout does not agree with Aunt Alexandra, this will eventually happen and Atticus won't be able to answer the questions that Scout has. Even if Scout doesn't know it yet, she will later in the book have questions that she won't want to ask Atticus or Atticus won't be able to answer and having Aunt Alexandra there will help her get through those difficult times. One question I have is, do you think that Scout's views of Aunt Alexandra will change as we get through the novel, and if so how?
ReplyDeleteIn addition to Julie's comment and in response to Alex's, I think Scout's opinion of Aunt Alexandra will definitely change as the novel progresses. According to Scout, "I could think of nothing else to say to her (Aunt Alexandra). In fact I could never think of anything to say to her, and I sat thinking of past painful conversations between us." (170) Here, Scout expresses her discomfort with Aunt Alexandra, not exactly her hatred for her. Although so far their relationship has been shaky, I think that because the two do not know each other well enough and don't have many common interests, this makes them very different, and unfamiliar with each other.
ReplyDeleteRelating to Julie's comment, I think that Aunt Alexandra really is just trying to help out the family, and no matter how rude she may seem to the children, her current morals are good-hearted. I think as the book progresses, Scout will come to understand this and realize that Aunt Alexandra is only there for her support. Because of their lack of common interests and beliefs, this bonding will come later rather than sooner, but I believe that as Scout matures she will be able to master the original skill Atticus introduced to her. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view." (39) Attiucus told this to Scout hoping she would apply it to her teacher, Miss Caroline, but I believe that Scout will have to use this skill in many future situations.
Why do you think Atticus didn't enlist in Calpurnia's help, instead of Aunt Alexandra's? How do you think Scout views on Calpurnia have changed now that she knows more about her life? Do you think it was wrong for Calpurnia to bring the children to her church, or do you think it was a learning experience for all of them?
I don't exactly agree with Leandra's first paragraph. Remember, Scout said that Aunt Alexandra was similar to Mount Everest in that they were both icy cold. Scout dislikes her in the extreme for trying to enforce the fact that she is not ladylike. This does end up being a vicious cycle, because she doesn't communicate with Aunt Alexandra at first, and then because they have nothing the say they don't talk, and the cycle continues.
ReplyDeleteAtticus didn't enlist Calpurnia's help because she doesn't have the heart to do what Aunt Alexandra will do. Cal doesn't want to put Scout through becoming a lady and "dressing like a girl". Because of this conflicting opinion between what she would be trying to tell Scout and Jem and her own feelings, this would not work. This makes Aunt Alexandra the obvious choice, because she feels the same way as the lessons she will teach.
Scout's view on Calpurnia has changed slightly. She knows more about Cal, but she also treats Cal more of a friend now, because Dill wasn't coming this summer. Cal bringing Scout and Jem to Church was a great idea. They get to learn the other side of Maycomb, pardon the phrase.
Do you think that Scout and Jem will bond together even stronger against Aunt Alexandra? Do you think that Calpurnia will last as Scout's friend for the summer?
I also agree with Julie that in some ways it is very good for scout to have someone to show her how to be a lady. Scout does have a very strong right to dislike her though. She has many flaws, most based off of her self-confidence. I think that Atticus did not invite her but he was not skeptical of the idea. I think that while Aunt Alexandra is not the best person for the job it is good that she came. I also have the opinion that she is given too much power too fast, Atticus should have continued to be the primary parenting figure while Aunt Alexandra is slowly worked in. I believe that Harper Lee put in the last scene of the chapters to show that Aunt Alexandra is pushing Atticus around.
ReplyDeleteI had the theory that Atticus could ask Cal to teach scout how to be a lady. She is much better for the job because Scout enjoys her compony and respects her. Even if she is a neigro I think that Atticus should be too smart to have overlooked her.
What do you think of my idea about Cal? Do you think Aunt Alexandra has too much power? On a different note, do you think Dill will come back next summer, or ever?