We had two classes.
We first covered chapter 13, and in our second
class we did some vocabulary review.
Homework:
- Finish Chapter 13 questions
- Read chapters 14-15 by the night of May 28th
Our next class in May 29th, so we will cover both Chapters.
About Aunt Alexandra:
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus’ sister, and Jem and Scout’s Aunt. Atticus called on her to live at the Finch’s house simply because he thought that Scout needed a female influence, what with being raised by her father and her brother.
Aunt Alexandra is Atticus’ sister, and Jem and Scout’s Aunt. Atticus called on her to live at the Finch’s house simply because he thought that Scout needed a female influence, what with being raised by her father and her brother.
Aunt Alexandra is constantly nagging Scout about wearing overalls, and how she should try to act more like a lady. She is also very socially conscious, and is always telling Scout and Jem that they should not interact with those who are lower than the Finches in the social pyramid. For example, Aunt Alexandra would not let Scout go to church with Calpurnia anymore, because she believed that Cal was below them. This was because she was only a maid.
She also wouldn’t let Scout play with Walter Cunningham, because she thought he was “trash”. She is very proud of her family and tries very hard to "uphold the family name". Because of this, this makes her a very big enforcer of two kinds of prejudice in the novel; gender and social prejudice. It also causes her to disagree with Scout.
A Quote by Aunt Alexandra:"The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and new suit, but he'll never be like Jem."
Chapter 13
Summary:
Aunt Alexandra has decided (and convinced Atticus) it would be best for the family if she stays with them for "a while," which worries Scout even though she knows there's nothing to be done. Aunt Alexandra establishes herself in the neighborhood and continues to pester the children about what they should and should not do. She is old-fashioned and proper, and often refers to the people of Maycomb in light of their family history.
Summary:
Aunt Alexandra has decided (and convinced Atticus) it would be best for the family if she stays with them for "a while," which worries Scout even though she knows there's nothing to be done. Aunt Alexandra establishes herself in the neighborhood and continues to pester the children about what they should and should not do. She is old-fashioned and proper, and often refers to the people of Maycomb in light of their family history.
She seems to believe that behaviors and character traits are hereditary, passed on from one generation to the next - one family might have a Gambling Streak, or a Mean Streak, or a Funny Streak. She also judges families on the basis of how long they have been settled in the same place. Those who have stayed on the same land for many generations are deemed "Fine Folks," whereas Scout always thought that "Fine Folks" were those who "did the best they could with the sense they had." Scout reasons that in Aunt Alexandra's eyes, the Ewells, who are very poor, are "Fine Folks," because they have stayed on the same land by the town dump for three generations, which clearly is not the case.
Scout remembers how Maycomb was founded around an old tavern run by a man named Sinkfield. Its location was very far inland and away from the only form of transportation in that day - riverboats. Thus, the original town families tended to intermarry a great deal, until most people looked fairly similar in the town. Newcomers arrived rarely, and when a new person married a Maycomb family, the new genes were noticeable. Most old people still know each other so well that every behavior is somewhat predictable and repetitive.
Aunt Alexandra wants the children to know all about the Finch family and uphold its genteel heritage, but Atticus has not introduced them to the entirety of their family history, and instead has told them amusing stories, such as how their cousin Josh went insane at university. Aunt Alexandra tries to pressure Atticus into telling the children why they should behave and "live up to your name." Atticus makes an attempt, but when Scout begins to get upset with this strange side of her father she has never seen before, he returns to his original principles and finds himself incapable of passing on what Aunt Alexandra deems important. Scout is relieved when her father returns to the same old Atticus, and says she knew what he was trying to do, but that "it takes a woman to do that kind of work."
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR OTHER EXAMS!
