Aunt Alexandra Impact

Scout’s Negative Impact from Aunt Alexandra and Positive Impact from Atticus and Maudie
The time difference from the Great Depression setting of To Kill A Mockingbird and present day is rather large, but that does not change the lessons that are learned or taught in the novel because some of the problems that existed back then still exist now. Scout gets to experience the feeling of prejudices and how it affects the lives of others. Scout does not know much about the events that are happening or why people judge or act the way they do throughout the book, but Atticus Finch and Maudie teach her many valuable lessons that Scout takes into consideration. She learns lessons such as giving everyone a fair chance, doing the right thing no matter
Aunt Alexandra’s negative actions towards Calpurnia, lower class individuals like Walter Cunningham, and Tom Robinson and his case, end up helping Scout see a different side of racism. Aunt Alexandra wants Atticus to fire Calpurnia, “And don’t try to get around it. You’ve got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We don’t need [Calpurnia] right now” (Lee 182) because she believes that since she is at the Finch’s house and can provide them with household tasks, Calpurnia is no longer needed. She wants Calpurnia completely out of Scout’s life, so Scout can see how to correctly treat others in Aunt Alexandra’s viewpoint. She worries that Calpurnia will affect the way Scout see people that are different then them. Atticus claims, “She knows what she means to this family” (Lee 209), but Aunt Alexandra protests, “I don’t think it’s a good habit, Atticus” (Lee 210). By the result of trying to fire Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra hopes to then influence Scout to treat others who are different the way Aunt Alexandra does because she feels that Calpurnia is teaching her the wrong
Jem is growing up and needs space, but Scout does not understand that until Atticus tells her, “ You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (Lee 39). Atticus tells Scout to not judge people unless she knows what they are going through. She then uses this information to understand what her brother is going through and his troubles. Scout complains that her teacher, Miss. Caroline, is not letting her read anymore, but Atticus does not believe so. Atticus wants to make Scout feel better, so he teaches her about compromises. Atticus then comes up with a deal for Scout, “You’ll concede the necessity of going to school, we’ll go on reading every night just as we always have” (Lee 41). By coming up with a compromise, it shows Scout that there is not always one way to do things. There are more options to fix an obstacle than she knows about, which allows her to open up her mind. During the summer, Boo Radley is a mysterious man who catches the attention of Jem, Scout, and Dill, as they try to lure him out of his house, but Atticus does not approve that the kids meddling in someone else's life. When Atticus found out that the children start to bother Boo, he asks, “Does this by any chance have anything to do with Boo Radley?” “No sir”, said