The affect that Aunt Alexandra has on Atticus is that he begins to feel like his children need to become gentlemen and ladies. He changes his behavior by suddenly lecturing his children on who they are and how they should act in a certain way. However, this is unlike Atticus since he usually doesn’t mind how they act. Although Aunt Alexandra influences Atticus to talk with his children about how they act, he takes it back since he sees how his behavior change is so upsetting to his children. This shows Atticus’ development as a father because he is doing the best for his family as he has done in recent chapters. In addition, Atticus’ conflict brings in the theme of him being more of a father than a lawyer. Another theme that connects to this chapter is how Atticus gives into the pressure that the people of Maycomb put on him to “fix” his children, which reveals more humanly aspects to Atticus’ character. This is why he asks Aunt Alexandra to come stay with his family. Since the people of Maycomb were so desperate to see the changes in Atticus’ family it is why the people of Maycomb welcomed Aunt Alexandra so warmly. “Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me.”(175)
Do you think that Atticus will become serious about Jem and Scout’s behavior or do you think that Atticus will realize that he doesn’t need Aunt Alexandra and let his kids grow up without strict guidelines of behavior?
At the end of the chapter Atticus’ glasses slip. What do you think this symbolizes?
Atticus says “it’s is not time to worry yet” during this chapter and when the fire was burning down Miss Maudie’s house. Do you think that this is foreshadowing? What does this quote mean?
Is Aunt Alexandra a typical character of that time period or are there “Aunt Alexandras” today?
Do you think Jem and Scout need reforming?
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Responding to George's post I think that the reason for Atticus's lecturing his children on topics he had never brought up before was that he was trying to make Aunt Alexandra happy. I think he asked her to come live with them for a bigger reason than they need disciplining. Maybe he thought that Jem and Scout needed a mother. There's only so much a father can achieve, as said on page 197, "It takes a woman to do that kind of work." The type of work Scout is referring to is not said but I think that Atticus brought Aunt Alexandra to stay at their house because he thinks that there is only so much he and Cal can do.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting while reading this chapter that Aunt Alexandra had the qualities, most of which Scout doesn't admire, to fit perfectly into Maycomb. This underlines a conflict in the story; the people who fit into the social scene and the ones who don't.
I think Atticus's glasses slipping symbolize him trying to hold onto his image, being a lawyer and a loyal father. It seems as if every time he does something that he doesn't agree with his glasses slip, the person he tries to show his kids slips a little bit. Do you think that Scout will think of Atticus differently after this conversation?
To comment on Celia's comment, I agree. I think that every time Atticus steps out of his comfort zone, his glasses tend to symbolize this. I think that he steps of of his comfort zone in this situation because he talks to his kids about something that his sister, Alexandra, brings up, clearly nothing he wants to talk about. When Alexandra moves in, you can see that there becomes two different sides to motherly figures, one being Cal and one is Alexandra. Cal is strong and caring, she always protects Scout and Jem and lets them into her world just as she is a part of theirs. The other side is Alexandra, she is independent and focusing more on what clothes Scout wears and how proper she is. A huge difference between Scout's "mothers" is that Alexandra (Alex for short) is white and Cal is black. I think that Scout, knowing about both of these sides to race, is important. When Scout and Jem go to church with Cal, they learn a lot about the life of Negroes, this is important towards the progress of Scouts growing up and learning more about Maycomb and race. Between these conflicts towards her "mother," Atticus also tries to play a role in their lives. You can see this when he talks to his kids about the Finch family not being "run-by-the-mill," stepping out of his comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteWhen Celia says, "This underlines a conflict in the story; the people who fit into the social scene and the ones who don't." I strongly agree. Cal is clearly the not fitting into Scout and Jems community of Maycomb. Mostly because she is African American. Yet Cal gets along with with the kids much more then Alex. She also shows more love for Scout and Jem. Whereas Alex is included in their lives to express the "white" side of Scout's life. She shows that there are two people that Scout can grow into Cal, or Alexandra. This "fitting" into Maycomb environment can be a good and a bad thing. Maycomb had basically killed Boo Radley with rumors and gossip, so he was locked up in a house. So fitting into Maycomb can bring you to these unpleasant things.
Do you think it is better to fit into the Maycomb environment?
Do you think Scout is going to turn out more like Cal or Alex? This question is actually very important because although it may seem easy to pick one, she also has her father that will influence her.
Do you think it would have been better for Scout not to see Alex? Is it important that Alex came to her house?
How can this (having two "mothers") later lead her to trouble?