Chapter 24 is in the book to demonstrate the utter hypocrisy in the fabric of adult society in Maycomb during a relatively hopeful but primitive and fearful period of American history.
The scene is a devout “missionary circle” consisting of the women of Maycomb meeting for tea at the Finch house. The author uses this Christian scene to underline the ingrained hypocrisy of their social behavior. While considering the plight of a far off African tribe, the Mrunas, the women were, in the same breath, denigrating the blacks in their very own community. “Mrs. Merriweather’s large brown eyes always filled with tears when she considered the oppressed [in Africa],” (308), yet Mrs. Merriweather says to Mrs. Farrow, “...There’s nothing more distracting than a sulky darky…Just ruins your day to have one of ‘em in the kitchen,” (310).
In joining the ladies in the missionary circle as part of Aunt Alexandra’s desire “to teach me to be a lady,” (307) Scout was being indoctrinated into preservation of the status quo. This is apparent as in the final scene after the news about Tom Robinson's death. In that scene, Miss Maudie and Aunt Alexandra act as though “…their only regret was the temporary domestic disaster of losing Calpurnia… ” (317). In suppressing their grief about Tom Robinson's death, Miss Maudie, Aunt Alexandra and Scout join together in keeping their poise in the face of tragedy. Scout appears to respect Aunt Alexandra, by saying, “After all, if Aunty could be a lady in times like these, so could I” (318). In taking this smug approach, they are not making waves, fulfilling their role in Maycomb. It is up to Atticus and the African Americans to lead social change for the next generation.
Question:
Do you think Aunt Alexandra may be like Atticus, but is afraid to show her true feelings?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I do not think that Aunt Alexandra is like Atticus at all. Almost all her actions go against Atticus's strong morals. If she was like Atticus she would not go against her morals just for an image. I think that in some ways Aunt A. is the opposite of Atticus. She is racist and focused on projecting and image throughout the town. Whereas Atticus is could care less about his image and is focused on shedding the light to Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra can not bring her self to leave the past, leaving the past and pushing forward is what Atticus is all about. We have seen alot of Aunt A. by now, so I think it is fair to say : Do you love her, condone her, or hate her?
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of your examples of the women's hypocrisy, I found it shocking that the women only disliked having no Calpurnia around rather than feeling sorry for the Robinsons. I would have to say Aunt Alexandra has definitely embraces the morals Atticus has, reminding herself of how much Atticus has done for Maycomb County. However she is very much like the rest of Maycomb County, wanting Jem and Scout to be normal children with little exposure to the real world. I feel like if she were to really have Atticus' morals, she would let them loose in their household, but she went as far as to try and shape Atticus into a more fatherly figure.
ReplyDeleteI do think that Alexandra is a little bit like Atticus. "Didn't they try to stop him? Didn't they give him any warning?...This is the last straw, Atticus." (pg 315)This shows her compassion for African Americans. Aunt Alexandra is very conscious of other peoples opinions of her and withstanding a proper place in the community.This shows when Alexandra got upset and Miss Maudie had to quiet her down before the missionary ladies heard. If she weren't so intent on her position in society she would be like Atticus.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that she and Miss Maudie could have more in common then they had thought?
First off I believe that Aunt Alexandra reveals that she is much like Atticus when she has a small break down in chapter 24 as Brian has already mentioned. I believe that the entire southern woman, disagree with everything Atticus does campaign, is all a cover for the person she really inside and the influence Atticus had on her growing up, which she is afraid to show. I get the hint that Aunt Alexandra just wants to blend in with the rest of society and Maycomb, not be an outcast like her brother has become, up until chapter 24.
ReplyDeleteFurther Questions:
1) Why does Scout wear herSunday dress and act like a woman, is it maturity or sympathy?
I agree with Eliot that this scene is to show that the ladies are unaware of their own hypocrisy. It is a very ironic scene. I think that this scene is also to show that many of the residents of Maycomb are blindly racist. It is obvious that Mrs. Merriweather is very sympathetic to the Mrunas, the African tribe that the society is discussing. She is a good person, as is shown in the scene; she is devout, she "saved" her husband, and she tears at the thought of oppression. What she, and many other Maycomb residents, do not realize, is that the blacks are being oppressed in much the same way as those that they feel badly for. My question is do you think Scout realizes the irony of the situation with the ladies?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Karrisa in the fact that aunt a. is nothing like Atticus. She is stereotypical, and feeds off rumors and gossip. Atticus is quietly strong-willed, and will stop for no one. He doesn't even show his true feeling when he talks to aunt a. and Cal about T rob. She cannot control impulses, and tries as hard as possible to be the norm. Atticus is loose and headstrong; he would never let his feelings affect anyone else. That is the main difference between the two.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Aunt A is remotely like Atticus. She shares some of the same feelings about segregation in the south, but does not stand up for them. I do agree with all of Elliots point in his post about chapter 14. But branching off from Niks question i believe Scout was showing signs of maturity in this chapter. I think this is also a reason this chapter was included. Obviously Scouts maturity is taken to the next level in this chapter and i think that is a main reason why this chapter is included.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elliot's assessment of the chapter. It's interesting that the Maycomb women call themselves "Christian missionaries" and are supposed to be doing good deeds and caring about those who are less fortunate. While it's easy for them to feel sympathetic toward the faraway African Mrunas, they refuse to face what's going on in their own town. I believe that another point of this chapter is to show that Aunt Alexandra isn't as similar to the other ladies as she seemed to be, whether or not she's like Atticus. The glimpse Harper Lee gives us into Aunt Alexandra's response to Tom Robinson's death was strong characterization and further shows that things aren't always as they appear, an ongoing theme in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI think chapter 24 has shown some clear distinctions between Aunt Alexandra and the typical Southern woman figure we were acquainted with in this chapter, but, unless she has drastically changed, Aunt Alexandra’s mind is still polluted stereotypes and aloofness that Atticus seems to be immune to. Aunt Alexandra was certainly taken back and frustrated by the news of Tom Robinson’s death and her honest sympathy reveals her to be softer and more caring than we have yet seen in the book. Her sympathy also reveals that she is free enough from the prejudices that infect most of Maycomb to mourn for a black man. This being said, if Atticus had not been involved in the trial Aunt Alexandra would have probably been less shaken. Atticus has sacrificed so much to help Tom Robinson and he had officially lost. In addition, because of Atticus’ involvement in the Tom Robinson case, Aunt Alexandra knows Tom Robinson’s innocence. Based on the frequent stereotyping Aunt Alexandra usually is accustom to, it is unclear (if she had no relation to Atticus) that she would have shown the same sympathy. It is also important to take into account her conformance with some immoral southern ideals. Although Atticus never directly opposes these immoral ideals, he would never embrace them. I think chapter 24 has shown a more moral side of Aunt Alexandra, but her acceptance and embracement of contradicting morals along with her motivating ties to Tom Robinson prove Aunt Alexandra and Atticus to be in different moral league.
ReplyDeleteCasinos Near Casinos Near Casinos in Dallas, WV
ReplyDeleteWhat are some of the closest casinos 서울특별 출장샵 to the city? · 포천 출장안마 Bally's · Bellagio · 수원 출장샵 D'Auberge 경상남도 출장샵 Casino & Resort 천안 출장마사지 · Flamingo · Eldorado Casino · Hollywood