1) Why does Aunt Alexandra come to stay with Atticus and his family? What is she like?
2) How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?
3) Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Who do you think is right?
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Chapter 13
Question #3
Aunt Alexandra’s limited outlook on breeding and family is in my opinion very conceited and naive. Aunt Alexandra’s view includes that based on an individuals heritage should have an influence on how their behaviour should be approached as. She also believes that because of ones background should be giving an opportunity to judge someone if they are a proper and kind person versus a rude and indecent person. Atticus is against this sight. he belives that one should not be judged based on someone's ancestors. therefore Atticus tells Scout and Jem to forget about Aunt Alexandra's opinion.
Q#1. Aunt Alexandra came to live with the Finches because she and Atticus thought that the household needed some feminine influence. They also thought that the Finches' children should be respectful and polite to others but according to the people in Maycomb, Jem and Scout being the Finches, were breaking their stereotype because they are spoiled and disrespectful. As a result, Aunt Alexandra came to Maycomb to adjust their behaviors and hoped they will look up to her as a role model. Aunt Alexandra is a sophisticated woman with proper manners. She is righteous, attentive and cautious but she lacks respect to the coloured people.
Chapter 13
Question #2
Aunt Alexandra has involved herself in Maycomb's social life by introducing herself as a mannered, upholding moral, believes in herself, and never bored individual. People have welcomed her, and she participates in most events and parties, which are sometimes hosted by her, (she has started a missionary circle with the Maycomb ladies) and is very engaged in the community affairs. This has made her well liked and popular within the community.
She acts in this way to promote her family name, after the community has turned their backs on Atticus and his children, because of their unacceptable behaviour. Since she is a strong believer in stereotypes, the thought that if members of the community see her behaviour as a 'Finch's' behaviour, they could possibly expect the same from the other Finches. It is a way to regain their high position in the community hierarchy, they have earned over generations.
Q#2)
When Aunt Alexandra arrives in Maycomb, it is like she has lived there all her life and is the most popular lady in town. She has tons of people greeting her, baking cakes for her and invititing her over for coffee. She is already a socialite, but she involves herself by inviting Maycomb women over to talk and sip tea.
kingcityss11. There were three reasons in the book that respond to question number one.
The first reponse I found in the book was: "We (Aunt Alex and Atticus) decided that it would be best for you (Scout) to have some feminine influence". This was stated by Aunt Alexandra while speaking with Scout in page 127 of the novel
The second response that I had observed in the book was: "Your Aunt is doing me a favour, as well as you all. I can not stay here all day with you, and the summers going to be a hot one"! This was said by Atticus while speaking to both Jem and Scout on page 128 in the novel
The final response I foound for that question was that Aunt Alexandra came to live with the Finch family in order to adjust thier behaviours to make them more like other peoples behaviours around the community and to show that Jem and Scout can act like the lady and gentleman they are.
Aunt Alexandra is a very polite, calm, and a well-put-together individual. There may be many positive things about Aunt Alexandra, but a negative about her is that she doesn't respect coloured people the same way that she white people.
2. Aunt Alexandra involes herself in the social life of Maycomb, Alabama much. The first thing she does to get involed in the social life of the county is being invited by some of the Finch friends for lunch, coffee, or tea. She also becomes involed in the social life in this county by joining a Missionary Society in the area. She also joined the Maycomb Amanuensis Club and became the secratary of such club. It is said by Scout during his narration role that "Aunt Alexandra was one of the last of her kind" (pg 129).
3. I feel that Aunt Alexandra's view on breeding and family is very false. Her view states that past generartions of a family have a high effect on one's behaviour, which I find false. Her view also states that becuase of an individuals backround, it gives people the right to judge them and their behaviour. For example, if an individual has a backround of a family tending to not mind their own buisiness, it gives a person the right to judge said person and assume that they do not mind their own buisiness ethier. Atticus on the other hand does not have the same views as Aunt Alexandra. He belives that an individual should not be jugded according to thier backround. Because he belives this and does not agree with Aunt Alexandra, he tells the kids to forget everything that she tells him when she leaves.
In this situation. I think that Atticus is correct by saying to the children to forget everything that Aunt Alexandra says because I also belive that a person should not be judged by their family tree, if you will.
Question #3
Aunt Alexandra beliefs about breeding and families are very old fashioned. She believes that people should be classified as families and that if one family is a certain way they all are. For this reason, she wants the Finches not to 'breed' with families out of there class.
Atticus tells Jem and Scout to forget about this conversation because he does not agree with what Aunt Alexandra wants Jem and Scout to hear. I believe that Atticus is completely right because I don't believe that people shouldn't be able to have certain opportunities based on their background. Although in society today this is still carried out.
1) Aunt Alexandra comes because both she and Atticus agree that the family needs more of a "feminine influence". Also, she is there to support Atticus and the children during the duration of the trial as they will be facing much hostility and injustice, something the children are not familiar with. Aunt Alexandra is lady-like and sociable and she “fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove”. She is also very bossy, always deciding "What Is Best For The Family" and telling Scout, Jem and even Atticus what to do.
2) Aunt Alexandra was well connected, having known many people in Maycomb from her time at the Landing. In order to expand her social circle, she set up a missionary circle and joined and became Secretary of the Maycomb Amanuensis Club. She immerses herself in community affairs, making her well-liked and welcome by almost everyone.
3) Aunt Alexandra thinks that every family has "a Streak" and she judges people by their family name. She thinks that a family's reputation is measured in the number of years they had been living in the same place. Jem points out that this is wrong as that would suggest that the Ewells were "fine folk". Aunt Alexandra felt that Atticus needed to instill more family pride in his children, in the hope that Scout and Jem would live up to the Finch family reputation. She wanted Atticus to discipline his children and turn them into little angels, just like all the Finches before them. However Atticus tells them to forget about how their Aunt thinks they should behave and just carry on discovering themselves and being their own persons. I agree with Atticus. Who you are does not depend on what your ancestors have done or what they were like; your life is not marked by someone who came before you. We should all live our own lives and be our own selves.
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