TO BE A LADYCharacter: Aunt Alexandra

Theme: Empathy

By Gabby Carmichael All photos All Rights Reserved by Gabby Carmichael ©

To Kill a Mockingbird Wiki Project Presents:

MYSELF; IT’S ALL I WANT TO BE

• This is Scout before Aunt Alexandra came into her life. She is a high-spirited and adventurous girl with morals in contrast to her aunt.

• Throughout this essay, Aunt Alexandra and Scout’s relationship is illustrated during the application of empathy.

“Be yourself, no one can ever tell you that you’re doing it wrong,” –James Herlihy

CONFORMITY• In a relentless battle with each

other, Scout tries to express her discomfort with Aunt Alexandra’s choices.

• Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to be a lady, and to conform with society’s views of a girl which involves playing with small tea sets and wearing pink bows. However, Scout loves to wear overalls and play outside.

“Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth,” –John F. Kennedy

THE FIRST STEP

• "Suddenly, I remembered being in Scout's position, the pressure to be perfect coiling around me like a snake. It choked me until I finally let go of everything on the quest to perfection. And I realize that's all I ever wanted." –Aunt Alexandra

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. –Confucius

REFLECTION

• Scout is in discomfort while suffering through Aunt Alexandra’s dinner party. On top of a continual murmur of pointless hypocritical conversation, Scout is in the attire she most despises, but it makes Aunt Alexandra happy, or does it?

Life is truly a reflection of what we choose to see and be,” -Trudy Symeonakis Vesotsky

MAYBE IT’S TIME TO SEE THROUGH HER EYES

• This whole time, Scout’s been the color in a cruel world of black and white. She can see the light in everyone, even when Aunt Alexandra cannot.

• Scout lives in a black and white world, only to be the color that everyone wishes they could see.

“Color! What a deep and mysterious language. The language of dreams,” –Paul Gaguin

ALL SHE EVER WANTED• Perhaps Scout can see how Aunt

Alexandra feels, and perhaps she will realize what she does is for her sake.

• The Southern society has always pressured women into striving for perfection. When Aunt Alexandra fell into this pressure she did not want anyone else to feel the way she did. Aunt Alexandra tried to help Scout become a lady, so society wouldn’t force her to.

“Truth is neither universal or verifiable,” –Bella Vida

FINAL UNDERSTANDING• It took time. It took energy, but in

the end, it all worked out because Aunt Alexandra saw that Scout was the color in her black and white world.

• Scout finally saw Aunt Alexandra meant no harm. She only wanted perfection.

• They finally used empathy to appreciate what each one did for the other. Aunt Alexandra protected Scout while Scout provided color.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle,” –Plato

My name is Alexandra Finch, and today, I learned an important lesson. My brother Atticus once said, "You never understand someone until you put yourself in their shoes and walk around in them." My niece, Scout Finch, and I were never on the best terms. We never listened to each other. Scout and I were fighting a constant battle about something as pointless as what to wear when I realized something. I was so scared about upholding the family name that I forgot about how Scout feels. I never let Scout be herself, and if I were in her shoes, I would not want to feel that way. So, what if society pressures every woman into perfection. Perfection does not exist. However, I think Scout learned that lesson as well through her time at the dinner pary. She put up with her discomfort for me. Anyway, I learned that Scout should be herself no matter what. I learned that I should be myself. I learned to love someone for who they are not who I think they should be.

THANK YOU FOR READING; I HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING!

Character: Aunt Alexandra

Theme: Empathy

By Gabby Carmichael