To Kill a Mockingbird Persuasive Essay Many of the people in Maycomb have some bit of racism coursing through their veins at any given time. Contributing factors to this epidemic are the ongoing rumors and assumptions of African Americans during this time period, but the main factor is the mindset of the people raised in Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra is one of the many people plagued by this fault in society. Despite her respected status in Maycomb she struggles with character flaws involving racial and social prejudice. The racial prejudice displayed by Aunt Alexandra is shown largely in chapter nine when Francis, Uncle Jack, and Aunt Alexandra come to Atticus’s home to celebrate Christmas. While conversing with Scout, Francis tells her what he has heard …show more content…
“Because—he—is—trash, that’s why you can’t play with him.” Scout wants to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner because his father did not want to convict Tom Robinson. Furthermore, Scout wants to be friends with Walter because she likes him. Aunt Alexandra will not allow her to have anything to do with Walter because of his family’s history and because they are in a lower social class than the Finches. This shows how Aunt Alexandra places the Finch family on a pedestal because of how long they have been a part of Maycomb and their overall social respect. She does not want anything to tarnish her family’s stature so she shelters the children from anyone she deems unworthy. Some may have agreed with the thoughts of the Cunningham family as “trash”. During the tough times of the depression many family’s had little money, such as the Cunningham’s, and as said in the novel, the Cunningham family had a drinking streak. Because of both defects they were seen as lower class. This does not excuse Aunt Alexandra of her rudeness towards them. After all, Mr. Cunningham did try to take Atticus’s side in the trial. Aunt Alexandra definitely shows her stance on social class throughout the
The Southern women were told and obligated, by some code of southern conduct, to mature into fair-smelling, perfect "ladies." By "ladies" they meant women who were well mannered, good at embroidery, and wore frilly, lacy dresses. One example of this southern tradition occurs when Aunt Alexandra comes to the Finch residence to help Atticus raise his children during the trial. When first arriving she says to Scout, "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys." This comment implies that the only subjects girls are expected to understand are boys and clothes. Aunt Alexandra makes no mention of Jean Louise's intelligence, education, or personality. Her diction suggests that the only thing Jean Louise is capable of pursuing is her attire and a man. Scout discovers what a "southern lady" is as she notices how Aunt Alexandra "chose protective garments that drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra's was once an hour-glass figure." Scout was considered to be very improper, wearing overalls and pants, but Aunt Alexandra would still try and introduce her to other ladies. I assume that she did this to try and influence Scout. She hoped Scout would form lady-like habits by watching others. Another example takes place after the trial, when Jem is appalled at the decision the court makes in response to Tom Robinson's case.
Aunt Alexandra was one of the many that felt that black people were a threat, just because they looked different. During these times, people weren't treated fairly. This novel teaches us not to judge one another at all, let alone about their physical or social appearances. God created us all the same, he just made each of us special individuals with special differences, including the color of our skin, the amount of money we have, the people we talk to, and the way our minds imagine. We fail to accept who we are and the choices we make.
Aunt Alexandra recognizes Scout’s maturity when she invites Scout to a seemingly meaningless lady’s brunch. As Scout views the gathering,she understands that this is no ordinary brunch but it is a showcase of social talent. Scout remembers, “There was no part about it, I must soon enter this world” (Lee 267). In this quote Scout comes to the realization that being a lady is not only justified in actions but also in universally accepted social functions. It is here that Scout’s lessons in womanhood come full circle and she is able to embrace a part of her existence that she had brushed off for a long time. Mayella Ewell is a singular character that gives an important insight into understanding of lower classes but in a less literal sense she is an extension of Scout. Mayella is part of Scout that is arrogant,confused, and denies the truth of the adult world. As Aunt Alexandra constantly mentions, she will never befriend the Cunninghams “Don’t be silly, Jean Louise,”said Aunt Alexandra. “The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines,you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem” (Lee 256). While in relation to Scout, Aunt Alexandra is portrayed as uptight, she is the ideal lady of
Alexandra first arrives at Maycomb a little while before Tom Robinson’s trial begins. The main purpose of her visit is to support Atticus and the kids, because of the case Atticus is taking on. She wants them to keep the family name. “It was plain that Aunty thought me dull in the extreme, because I once heard her tell atticus that I was sluggish. [...] Alexandra was positively irritable on the Lord’s day.” (170) “Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people [...] Presently I picked up a comb from Jem’s dresser and ran its teeth along the edge. ‘Stop that noise’, Atticus said. His courtness stung me. [...] I felt myself beginning to cry, but I could not stop.” (177-178) “She promised me I could come out to her house one afternoon. ‘You may not’ [Replied Alexandra].”(181) “...you’ve got to do something about her. [...] You’ve let things go on too long, Atticus, too long.” (182) All these quotes show that Aunt Alexandra brought evil and unrest to the family. Alexandra called scout sluggish. She was irritable on Saturday. She also caused Atticus to yell at Scout, something that he had never done before. Another evil is the racism that Alexandra presents. She tries to get rid of Calpurnia, and doesn’t let Scout go to her house. On the other hand, like most other characters and settings in To Kill A
Three students kicked out of a high school for threatening to bring a gun to school. Why would they? Because people were prejudice against them because other students thought they were “losers”. Moral: You shouldn’t not like a person because they aren’t like you. Prejudice was far much worse in the time period of To Kill A Mockingbird. But, Prejudice is the reason for much social injustice. Three characters named Nathan Radley, Atticus Finch, and Aunt Alexandria show us this in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.
Although the incident with Atticus preaching Aunt Alexandra's ideas made Scout feel overwhelmed, Atticus resisted Aunt Alexandra by telling Scout to f! forget what Aunt Alexandra told him to say, which reassured Scout somewhat. Another way Aunt Alexandra introduced Jem and Scout to social prejudice was how she wouldn't let Scout play with Walter Cunningham. Because the Cunninghams were farmers that lived out of town, Aunt Alexandra regarded Walter to be socially inferior, and said she would only let him in the house on business. Because he's trash, that's why you can't play with him (Lee 225).
Throughout the story, Aunt Alexandra’s behaviors indirectly teach Scout that prejudice is a disease with deep and far reaching roots. As Scout is exposed to Aunt Alexandra’s ideas regarding the hierarchy of society, she also begins to understand why Aunt Alexandra holds such opinions. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the children, she also brings along her unending gossip about other families in Maycomb. Scout explains that “Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land, the finer it was” (173).
Alexandra is obsessed with heredity and educating Scout and Jem of their superior family background - she will not allow Scout to bring home a Cunningham to play, nor will she allow her to visit Calpurnia at her home. Everyone in Maycomb has a particular “streak” (pg 143), mean streak, drinking streak etc. There is a lot of pigeon holing families (pg 145).
This quote is significant because it shows the gender roles that is used in the Finches home. After Aunt Alexandra came over to visit for a few weeks/months, many gender roles were changed. Aunt Alexandra felt like the head of the house, because she is trying to put the pride of the family back in her brother’s house. She was so consisted of changing the roles in the house. She wanted Scout to become the girl that every female should be, and wanted the family pride to once come alive in Maycomb, after Atticus made the decision of helping a black man. In her time period, female were discriminated and man were superior to women. Women were well educated back during the Great Depression, but wasn’t that superior to the men because they didn’t had their rights back there.
Also, when Scout asked Aunt Alexandra if she could play with Walter, Aunt Alexandra makes a rude remark.
When Aunt Alexandra first arrived at the Finch house, she took over as if she had been living there her whole life. When arriving home, Jem and Scout found her, “sitting in a rocking chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.”(p. 168). From the very beginning, Aunt Alexandra felt she should be completely in charge. The first thing she said was, “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,’” (p. 169). Aunt Alexandra treated Calpurnia as if Calpurnia was her servant. Aunt Alexandra was a strong influence within the Finches home, from the beginning. It did not do much of anything in the end, yet Jem and Scout saw a different side of their father, Atticus. “Atticus suddenly grew serious. In his lawyer’s voice, without a shade of affection, he said: ‘Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon [Jem] and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding−’”(p. 177). This may have been one of the first times that the children...
Every action can be categorized by whether it is acceptable or unacceptable based on the circumstances of when the action occurred. Harper Lee’s award-winning novel that soon secured the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird, has numerous characters set in Maycomb County, Alabama during the early 1930’s. In this period of time, society was at its peak of unbalanced statuses between the rich, poor, and the racial difference. One very prominent character whose actions fits these description is Aunt Alexandra. When she was first introduced, Aunt Alexandra illustrated a dominating status and superiority upon others.
When Aunt Alexandra says, "Your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while,'" Scout and Jem know that she will make new rules and run the house her way. "Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me." Aunt Alexandra has very different ideas than Atticus about how to raise children, especially girls, and Scout knows that she will have to change to please her aunt.
The readers are introduced to Aunt Alexandra at the Finch’s family Christmas, but Scout has most likely known her beyond what the readers see. So, because of this,
Aunt Alexandra regards herself and the rest of the Finches as the “royalty of Maycomb” and she tries to make Scout understand this notion. She believes that no Finch should associate with people who have low social statuses. In conclusion, Aunt Alexandra is not committed to social equality as times