After reading Chapter 13 in To Kill a Mockingbird, respond to the following question in a well organized paragraph using at least ONE piece of evidence (properly cited) from the book. Your response should be added as a comment to this post; it is due by midnight.
Aunt Alexandra’s arrival brings many changes to the Finch household, many of which are challenging for Scout, Jem, and Atticus. Describe Atticus’ internal conflict at the end of the chapter. What does Aunt Alexandra want Scout and Jem to appreciate? Do you think Atticus sees this as a priority or not? Why? What does it say about who he is as a person?
Atticus was feeling a bit apprehensive at the end of Chapter 13, he seemed very uneasy about the future. Aunt Alexandra was not helping this at all, she wanted Jem and Scout to appreciate what the Finch family name meant to Maycomb. Atticus had other things to worry about and didn’t find this as a priority. Aunt Alexandra tries to make this a priority and it causes Atticus more trouble than before and he begins to worry he will become like Joshua.
Atticus is stuck in between pleasing Aunt Alexandra and doing what he knows is best for his children. He begins to submit to Aunt Alexandra but then catches himself and reasons that it is not best for his children. Aunt Alexandra wants Jem and Scout to appreciate their heritage and act according to it, more like a gentleman and a lady would act. In comparisson, Atticus does not see this as a priority. He thinks that kids should be kids, as long they behave respectfully you shouldn’t try to alter their personalities. This shows that Atticus understands that one should be able to express themselves and no one should tell them who to be. It also shows that Atticus loves his children for who they are and wouldn’t want them to change simply to please Aunt Alexandra.
Atticus want to be a good father to Scout and Jem. He was doing his best before Aunt Alexandria came and when she arrived he heard all about what she thought he was doing wrong. Atticus wants his children to be good, happy people. Aunt Alexandria wants them to a lady and gentleman. Atticus struggled to find a way to teach them to be both.
Aunt Alexandria wants Scout and Jem to appreciate their heritage and the family they came from. She wants them to see people the way she does, by their family’s place in Maycomb’s society. Aunt Alexandria wants Jem and Scout to do ‘what’s best for the family’. By best for the family she means whats best for the family’s reputation.
I think Atticus is more concerned with his children doing the right thing and turning into good, respectable people than people who share the same values as Aunt Alexandria.
Atticus want to be a good father to Scout and Jem. He was doing his best before Aunt Alexandria came and when she arrived he heard all about what she thought he was doing wrong. Atticus wants his children to be good, happy people. Aunt Alexandria wants them to a lady and gentleman. Atticus struggled to find a way to teach them both.
Aunt Alexandria wants Scout and Jem to appreciate their heritage and the family they came from. “It was a sad thing that my father had neglected to tell me about the Finch Family, or to install any pride into his children”(Lee 176). She wants them to see people the way she does, by their families place in Maycomb’s society. Aunt Alexandria wants Jem and Scout to do ‘what’s best for the family’. By best for the family she means whats best for the family’s reputation.
I think Atticus is more concerned with his children doing the right thing and turning into good, respectable people than people who share Aunt Alexandria’s values.
Aunt Alexandra orders Atticus to teach the children about ancestry. She wants them to appreciate the greatness of their family. I don’t think Atticus sees this as a priority. At their age it doesn’t seem like a neccesary thing to be pounding into them. He tries to teach them about it, but he only makes Scout cry.
Towards the end of the chapter Atticus has an internal struggle. Aunt Alexandra wants him to tell Scout and Jem that they need to act more appropriate. Atticus tries but it seems like he just cant stand them acting differently. Aunt Alexandra is trying to get Scout and Jem to appreciate what kind of folk they come from. Atticus doesn’t see this as a priority, he probably thinks this way because he wants the kids to be themselves and don’t change. Atticus has the ability to accept all people for who they are.
When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with Atticus, Jem, and Scout, she jumps right into the middle of Maycomb, incuding their family. She planned on changing the way Scout, Jem, and even Atticus, acted and thought of themselves as Finch’s. Atticus dosn’t seem to like it, but he lets – and is partially forced to let – it happen. His internal struggle between changing his kids or letting be who they are happens when he can’t decide wat to do and all his anxiety is let out with one outburst of emotion. Atticus probably doesn’t see the chang eof his children’s mindsets as a priority, but with the upcoming struggles ahead, he’s been convinced that might be the best thing to do. All this is to show that Atticus is an open-minded man who just wants the best for his children and puts that at the forefront of his actions towards them.
Aunt Alexandra came to Maycomb and was immediately part of the social media of Maycomb. Atticus wants to please Alexandra but he knows that he needs to do whats best for his family. Aunt Alexandra wants the children to realize they are Finch’s and what the importance of that is. Even though this is an important thing I don’t see it as being that important to Atticus. He wants his children to make a name for themselves through there own actions. Atticus towards the end of the story does realize that it might be a good idea to teach this to them because of the upcoming struggles. This shows that Atticus is humble to whatever is best for his family even if it contradicts prior judgment. He is humble to Alexandra’s idea even though it fails resulting in the tears expelled by Scout.
Atticus’ internal conflict by the end of the chapter is that he is overly stressed by the case and he is being pressured into thing that he does not agree with, by Aunt Alexandra. That was causing him to act unlike himself. for example”This was not my father. My father never thought these thoughts. My father never spoke so,”(Lee 134). Aunt Alexandra wants Scout and Jem to become proper children. I think Atticus see’s this as a priority but maybe thinks they are to young to become very proper yet. He may think that they will develop into young lady’s and men as they grow in experience. I don’t think he thinks it is his job to worry about just yet. As a person Atticus is very soft and caring. He fights for what he believes to be right no matter what kind of situation it might put him in.
Towards the end of the chapter, Atticus’s internal conflict is his children’s behavior and how Aunt Alexandra thinks that they should act. Aunt Alexandra’s arrival is seen differently by others around the town. The neighbors of the Finches are excited to see her and warmly greet her. Atticus approves of her coming, but seems to have used it as a last resort to help watch his children. Also, the children do not want Aunt Alexandra to be there at all. However, she is there and there is nothing that they can do to change that she is. Aunt Alexandra wants Scout and Jem to appreciate their ancestors and the backgrounds that they come from. Atticus, however, does not see this as a high priority because he wants his children to be unique and to be themselves, and not change their lives to be like somebody elses’. To conclude, Aunt Alexandra’s arrival had a very differing fan base, she wanted the kids to be more like their ancestors, and Atticus wanted them to be unique and themselves.
Atticus is a loving and caring father to Scout and Jem. Aunt Alexandra comes along and tries to change things. She thinks that the Finches are superior to everyone else and that Scout and Jem should act more like gentlemen and lady like. After Aunt Alexandra sends Atticus to talk to the kids about being proud of their heritage, he just scares them because he doesn’t usually talk to them in such a demanding way. Atticus believes that the kids should act like kids, but be respectful. So his view is much different than Aunt Alexandra’s. I think Atticus has the right idea and by him standing up for the kids he is a better person.