She also knows that she is not a problem to Atticus, so that cruel remark did not bother her. There are only things I can't afford. Walter Cunningham 's father. He says that there are four kinds of people in the world: "There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there's the kind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump, and . When Aunt Alexandra makes her first appearance in the novel, she says to Calpurnia, . Walter Cunningham Jr. Walter may be almost as old as Jem, but he's still in Scout's class at school. We are given a glimpse of modern American society through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl called Scout. She's tryin to make you a lady. 5) At one point Jem describes four kinds of "folks" in Maycomb County:"our kind of folks don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks." What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? That view is empowered by the discussion Jem and Scout have towards the end of the book, where Jem talks about why they are better then the Ewells and the Cunninghams, saying that it is because of the Finch family heritage, which is basically Aunt Alexandra's opinion. In chapter 23 Aunt Alexandra says "I'll tell you why, cause he is trash.". . She is talking about the Munras and is saying they are great but she hates the blacks in Maycomb. Empathy, or the ability to understand another person's experiences, is another major theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Atticus serves as the moral compass of the book. In my opinion, people from all walks of life should mix with each other social class is a thing of the past. . Bob Ewell's threats are worrisome to everyone except Atticus. Alexandra's vision for Scout is that she do ladylike things and be a "ray of sunshine" for her lonely father. Social hierarchy affects the justice of Maycomb in a vast variety of ways. to acquit Tom Robinson. Copy. Essay Sample. Scout knows that Alexander usually dictates what she wants upon the family, and . 2.Is it easy to change our Constitution? Aunt Alexandra is all about ones breeding and family history. "'Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,' was the first thing Aunt Alexandra said. How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom's death? But, because he is an honorable man, Mr. Click to see full answer. In Harper Lee's famous novel, Alexandra Hancock, also known as Aunt Alexandra, is the matriarch of the Finch family. A year before the novel begins, Atticus helps Mr. Cunningham with some legal issues, and as a Cunningham, Mr. Cunningham is unable to pay Atticus with money. The reasoning behind this was because Atticus believed Scout needed a female figure to look up to, other than Calpurnia. She is willing to listen to Aunt Alexandra unlike in the earlier chapters. This time, Aunt Alexandra stopped and showed that she was worried abotu Atticus and Tom's family.Miss Maudie supports Aunt Alexandra and gives her a pep talk and gets her to go back to the meeting with the church women. 50.) Summary: Chapter 23. She is the sister of Atticus and Jack Finch, aunt to Jem and Scout Finch , and . Scout disagrees, and I think it's because Scout is more at an age where . The people of the town talk about Tom's death for a couple days. What is your opinion of the Maycomb ladies, as depicted in this chapter? Why can't Jem accept Scout's opinion about people? Aunt Alexandra is a formidable lady and is the only Finch sibling who stayed at Finch's Landing, the family's old plantation. On the one hand, it provides a sense of the town. Miss Maudie supports Aunt Alexandra and gives her a pep talk and gets her to go back to the meeting with the church women. This affected the relationship between Alexandra and Scout because Alexandra has insulted Scout, so that automatically stumps the relationship, especially since that hurt Scout's feelings (also stated in the text). 4. She always spoke about how Atticus defending a black man might hurt the family; however, she did not really care about Atticus. Group 6 Ben, Luke, Kyle `. Arteta 4 discrimination, social discrimination and gender discrimination are various forms used to show the destruction in their society. Upon learning that his father believed Tom to be innocent, Scout wants to invite Walter Cunningham over for lunch more often, but Aunt Alexandra puts her foot down, saying that the Cunninghams aren't the right sort of people for Scout to spend time with. Aunt Alexandra believes that Scout and Jem shouldn't hang out . Aunt Alexandra bluntly says the Cunningham's are not people who the Finch's wish to associate with. The reasoning behind this was because Atticus believed Scout needed a female figure to look up to, other than Calpurnia. Mr. Cunningham Character Analysis. Alexandra feels that the Cunninghams and other poor farming families are dirty and lack the social refinement of citizens from her same social class. Scout looks surprised and asks why not, and Alexandra tells her that the Cunninghams are not their "kind of folks." Alexandra elaborates by. Answered by Aslan 10 years ago 1/9/2012 9:06 AM Aunt Alexandra has a sense of social hierarchy. Aunt Alexandra thinks that the Cunnhinghams are trash, and therefore will not let Scout play with him. She also knows that she is not a problem to Atticus, so that cruel remark did not bother her. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. When Scout discusses bringing Walter-a Cunningham-home for dinner, Aunt Alexandra immediately disregards the idea. The noun phrase, faint distaste, shows that Miss Caroline is pull out by Scout's knowledge, as she preserve that grade one students were not suppose to know how to read and write. Briefly show the difference in attitude toward the Cunninghams as expressed by Atticus and Aunt Alexandra. 32) This is definitely one of the most important Atticus Finch quotes to know. 147. Scout, Arthur Radley, and the Cunninghams are examples of this destruction. She starts becoming more of a women. Why does she think this, and is she right? Now that is that." (23.84-85) Atticus's and Aunt Alexandra's opinions might appear to have switched up . Atticus believes that his children should be allowed to hang out with anyone they want, including the Cunninghams. Scout says she knows that Aunt Alexandra does not like her, and she does not care. The finches Cunningham, Ewell, black's: Jem talk about "background" to explain how the Finches are different from the Cunninghams. 52.) That view is empowered by the discussion Jem and Scout have towards the end of the book, where Jem talks about why they are better then the Ewells and the Cunninghams, saying that it is because of the Finch family heritage, which is basically Aunt Alexandra's opinion. Scout is describing her home early in the novel. (In other words, an almost-ten-year-old is sitting in with the first graders. Scout explains to Jem what Aunt Alexandra said that caused her to cry. 249. My opinion is that they are very lady-like and . "I didn't think it wise in the first place to let them (go)," Aunt Alexandra utters bitterly to Atticus when he returns home from the trial. This ultumatley leads to his death. Aunt Alexandra in "To Kill A Mockingbird", by Harper Lee. Then if they choose guilty then the defendant will go . She believes the Finch family is more civilized and superior: "Besides, there's a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Then if they choose guilty then the defendant will go . This line serves a dual purpose. not things I cannot do. Scout disagrees, and I think it's because Scout is more at an age where . Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be a lady. She also is aware that, like many during the Great Depression, Mr. Cunningham is poor. The reasoning behind this was because Atticus believed Scout needed a female figure to look up to, other than Calpurnia. Explain briefly how Tom was killed. Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Aunt Alexandra believes the Cunninghams are "below" her on the "social ladder." She believes Walter Cunningham isn't worthy of coming to their home for dinner because their family has "a drinking. Aunt Alexandra comes to the Finch residence at the end of chapter twelve, declaring that the family decided that it would be best for Scout and Jem to have some feminine influence in their lives. She looks down on people like the Cunninghams while Atticus sees them as simple hard working people. Wiki User. Atticus agree the children to be friend with Cunninghams. Prejudice Theme Analysis. . Why does Atticus tell them to forget it? Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not "our kind of folks" is that they are ethical trying to defend Tom. What is Atticus's explanation for Tom's attempted . For example, because of the fact that Tom Robinson is of a low class, he is not given a fair trial. Aunt Alexandra bluntly says the Cunningham's are not people who the Finch's wish to associate with. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee exposes the reader to characters who have prejudices against others because of their skin color or wealth. Atticus tells Jem and Scout that because he made Ewell look like a fool, Ewell needed to get revenge. This is evident when Miss Caroline looked at Scout "with more than faint distaste." after she reveals to Miss Caroline her capability to read and write. While Scout's version allows people to get better through individual choice, in Aunt Alexandra's eyes, quality is a function of time more than anything. #2. Alexandra thinks Scout is 12dull12 (not clever). Scout and Aunt Alexandra communicate very poorly with each other. (Jem) 250. 5. Calling walter trash: How does Jem describe the social hierarchy in Maycomb? Scout dislikes her, as Aunt Alexandra takes great offense to Scout's tomboyish nature and desperately wants Scout to wear dresses and act more feminine. Classism is assumed to be determined by the amount of money a person has. opinions. class. The reasoning behind this was because Atticus believed Scout needed a female figure to look up to, other than Calpurnia. At first Scout was . To Kill a Mockingbird. Social hierarchy also affects Aunt Alexandra's behavior towards the Cunninghams. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout witnesses many different types of prejudiceand even promotes these attitudes herselfincluding classism, sexism, and racism. A person's wallet seems more visible than their heart. This answer is: This time, Aunt Alexandra stopped and showed that she was worried abotu Atticus and Tom's family. Aunt Alexandra and the children remain worried. On the first day of first grade he lacks both shoes and a lunch, but it's clear he's a step up from Burris Ewell: he has clean . #1. Of course, most of them are repeating, too, so he probably doesn't feel too out of place.). The jury actually had to think about the conviction before they did it. Aunt Alexandra shows care for her niece and nephew because she worries where the children have gone. But, Aunt Alexandra sees them as not their kind of folks because the Cunninghams are beneath them in society which she think the Finches are at the top. Aunt Alexandra came to visit to watch the kids while Atticus was busy with the trial. Atticus thus insists that although Cunninghams may be poor, they're . Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was. Are all adults good at knowing how clever young people are? The second tier below that is the Cunninghams. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the reader is told about a young girl, Scout, growing up in South Alabama in the 1930's during the Great Depression. When Scout discusses bringing Walter-a Cunningham-home for dinner, Aunt Alexandra immediately disregards the idea. Maycomb is old, but in the 1930s it was also tired. "I had an idea, however, that Aunt Alexandra's appearance on the scene was not so much Atticus's doing as hers. Aunt Alexandra says, " We'll see about that " (Lee 299). He tells her that a Cunningham was on the jury and didn't want to convict. Then if they choose guilty then the defendant will go . Atticus does not believe in social class and breeding to separate people. Her father is a respected lawyer who is . The third tier is the Ewells, who can also be referred to as "white trash" by their lifestyle and them literally living nearby to Maycomb's dump. Open Document. (re Walter Cunningham) He - is - trash. Scout asks to play with Walter Cunningham, Jr., but Aunt Alexandra says "Indeed Not." Scout. Of course, Atticus has done the best he can do, but Aunt. Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. Do you think that people should mix only with others of the same social class? Another example could be when Scout talked about how the toys Aunt Alexandra suggested for her to play with according to her gender. Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not "our kind of folks"? When. Aunt Alexandra means that the Cunninghams are poor and they are not as high on the "social ladder" as the Finch's. They are not good people. . What was it that upset her more than anything else? 2011-04-26 13:07:02. Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon you that you are the product of several generations' gentle breeding. Instead, he pays with foodstuffs and firewood. Walter Cunningham because he has paid visits to her father at their house about legal matters, Scout knows him as a hard-working, honest man. She nearly faints when Calpurnia finds Jem and Scout at the trial. The Ewells, and the Cunninghams were farmers, so the crash of the stock . On the other hand, the line also signals to the reader that the . Aunt Alexandra is stuck in the past, she thinks she's too good for the Cunninghams.. that they are beneath her. 2 Pages. When Scout discusses bringing Walter-a Cunningham-home for dinner, Aunt Alexandra immediately disregards the idea. Aunt Alexandra means that the Cunninghams are poor and they are not as high on the "social ladder" as the Finch's. They are not good people. because he views her as a child that doesn't understand people. Aunt Alexandra bluntly says the Cunningham's are not people who the Finch's wish to associate with. The novel is about a young girl growing up during the Great . When Scout discusses bringing Walter-a Cunningham-home for dinner, Aunt Alexandra immediately disregards the idea. Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not "our kind of folks"? This shows that anyone who is lower than the Finches are trash. Starts to wear a dress. Immediately, Aunt Alexandra exclaims that no Cunningham are ever welcome into the Finch's household. Alexandra "Aunt Alexandra" Hancock is Atticus' and Jack's sister, married to James "Uncle Jimmy" Hancock. Atticus believes that they are nice people and Aunt Alexandra believes that they are trash. Aunt Alexandra's vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine . Best Answer. Aunt Alexandra bluntly says the Cunningham's are not people who the Finch's wish to associate with. b. Aunt Alexandra When the children said want to be friend with Cunninghams, she disagree, she said they are trash, their background is . 3.If Jem is right, what are the different kinds of folks in Tuolumne? What upset her was that Aunt Alexandra had called Walter Cunningham "trash." How does Jem describe the social hierarchy in Maycomb? Now that Ewell has gotten that vengefulness out of his system, Atticus expects no more trouble. She moves in with the Finch family for an indefinite stay and has a very . "and I still say that Jean Louise will not invite Walter Cunningham to this house. . Aunt Alexandra, Atticus's sister, is critical of the way he is bringing up his children. He shows her hair growing on his chest, which Scout can't see but compliments anyway. Source (s) To Kill a Mockingbird Even though Aunt Alexandra acknowledges the Cunninghams, the difference in their social class gives her a biased opinion. In contrast, Aunt Alexandra is prejudice towards the Cunningham family. When Scout asks her father if she can play with Walter Cunningham, Alexandra says, "We'll see about that" (Lee 137). Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family. Mrs. Merriweather is the biggest hypocrite of all. 51.) To Kill A Mockingbird - Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jack. Why does Aunt Alexandra have such a strong opinion about the Cunningham's. Kaila Lloyd 1.Is California prison system based off of circumstantial evidence? Aunt Alexandra's prejudiced views toward. And he is the person who held the jury decision. What upset her was that Aunt Alexandra had called Walter Cunningham "trash." Scout explains to Jem what Aunt Alexandra said that caused her to cry. Scout can be gracious to Walter and polite, but can't invite him over because "he is trash." Aunt Alexandra betrays here that she's extremely classist and thinks lowly of poor, uneducated people like the Cunninghams, no matter how kind they may be. How does Scout feel about Walter Cunningham? Most of these examples are made by Aunt Alexandra and her opinions. Finch women aren't interested in that sort of people" (Lee 300). What upset her was that Aunt Alexandra had called Walter Cunningham "trash." . Scout says she knows that Aunt Alexandra does not like her, and she does not care. Tomboy Scout is a true representative of feminism who dresses like a boy and likes taking part in what are considered boys' activitities. Atticus's definition is summed up in one paragraph. Active Themes. To Kill a Mockingbird is a modern reinterpretation of the old fable The Emperor Has No Clothes. Social class prejudice is based strongly on financial standing, and social acceptance. Scout studies Jem, who's getting taller and leaner. Is getting more mature. Aunt Alexandra Quotes About Her Character. She doesn't think Atticus has done a very good job of providing her with a good female role model. She has a son named Henry and a very spoiled grandson named Francis. The Cunninghams are poor farmers with an inbred, incestuous family tree and Aunt Alexandra refers to them as "trash" because of this. There are many other instances in To Kill A Mockingbird where racism is clearly shown. Even she can see the injustice and yet the adults fail to see the criminal miscarriage of justice and toxic levels of racial prejudice that lie at the heart of the novel. For Scout and many other characters, Atticus is a model of what a good person should be . 'Jean Louise, stop scratching your head,' was the second thing she said.". Aunt Alexandra means that the Cunninghams are poor and they are not as high on the "social ladder" as the Finch's. They are not good people. Aunt Alexandra's definition of "trash" is anyone who is worse that the Finches in the town of Maycomb. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Maycomb's social life?