In chapter 13, Aunt Alexandra comes to live for a while in Maycomb County. Atticus had asked that she come and instill a lady's influence over Scout so that she may grow up as a girl should. With an every growing wall of gender separating Jem and Scout, both Atticus and Aunt Alexandra felt that it was time to help Scout know what ladies should act like. This was an unfortunate turn of events for Scout, as Aunt Alexandra began asking of change from both Jem and Scout's personalities.
After Atticus was confronted by Aunt Alexandra, he began asking of the children to change their personalities in an uncharacteristic way, saying, "'She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you ar. She wants to talk to you about the family and what it's meant to Maycomb County... so you might be moved to behave accordingly,' he concluded at a gallop. Stunned, Jem and I looked at each other, then at Atticus, whose collar seemed to worry him. We did not speak to him." (177-178) What Atticus said went against his beliefs, because he encouraged his children to not follow the town's sway. In the end, Atticus gave up, realizing he could not tell his children to do this. The very last paragraph of the chapter says, "I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (179) Scout knew that this was not a type of discussion a father like Atticus, with his morals so strong in believing that being different does not matter. That only someone like Aunt Alexandra and the stereotypical mother or father could ask of them. Aunt Alexandra may have fit into Maycomb, but not within Atticus' home.
This refusal of Atticus to tell his children to follow the stereotypical kind of life style could relate to his beliefs in racism. Not only did Atticus let his children be different and accept them lovingly as a father, he never told them how to live their lives. How do you think Atticus' struggle with his children could have related to his case with Tom Robinson?
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I agree with what Brian said about the comparison between Atticus' relationship with Jem and Scout and his attitude toward the Tom Robinson case. As shown often throughout the novel, Atticus isn't the average Maycomb parent. An example of this is on page 110 when Francis tells Scout, "Grandma says it's bad enough he lets you all run wild, but now he's turned out a n*****-lover we'll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He's ruinin' the family, that's what he's doin'." Atticus forms his own opinions about racism and he lets Jem and Scout be themselves. He symbolizes a new beginning for Maycomb.
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