Atticus Finch is a hard working, single father who is keenly aware of the missing maternal influence in his children’s lives. Throughout the novel Atticus relies heavily on the female influence of his “colored nurse” Calpurnia, and neighbors Miss Maudie and Miss Rachel, to influence his children Scout and Jem. However, the female influence that Atticus relies on most in raising his children is that of his sister, Aunt Alexandra. Aunt Alexandra has long objected to the way her brother is raising his children, most specifically in regard to the raising of his nine year old “tomboy” daughter Scout. When Aunt Alexandra moves into the Finch home to lend a more “helpful hand” in raising Atticus’ children she often adamantly disagrees with Atticus on his parenting of Scout and Jem. Aunt Alexandra specifically does not like that Atticus’ employs a Negro woman, Calpurnia, in the Finch home.
Although usually respectful and agreeable with everything that his sister says, in Chapter 16, we begin to see Atticus standing up to his sister Alexandra. Instead of always agreeing with her or listening to her advice on how he should be raising his children, Atticus becomes more steadfast in raising his children with the morals he believes most important. In fact on the morning of the start of the trial, it is Scout that notices the changing relationship between her father and his sister, “I was beginning to notice a subtle change in my father these days, that came out when he talked with Aunt Alexandra. It was a quiet digging in, never outright irritation” (Lee 209).
As the novel progresses, and his children grow older, Atticus seemingly takes less stock in his sister’s claims about what type of of “disgraceful children slipped out in the night” (Lee 208-209) and what should and shouldn’t be said in front of Calpurnia. “Anything fit to say at the table’s fit to say in front of Calpurnia. She knows what she means to this family” (Lee 209). This growing change in the relationship between Atticus and Aunt Alexandra is evidence that Atticus will always believe that his most important job is to raise his children to be the most morally grounded, loving adults that he can. He is going to do it to the best of his ability even if it means no longer taking the advice of his own sister.
I agree with Tyler that Atticus is beginning to have a “quiet digging in” (Lee 209) with his sister, Aunt Alexandra. He doesn’t outright criticize her, but he makes sure that she knows that Calpurnia is important to the family, maybe even more than she is. Just when Aunt Alexandra moves in she says, "We don't need her." to which Atticus replies, "Alexandra, Calpurnia is not leaving this house until she wants to." (Lee 182). Atticus views Calpurnia as a "...faithful member of this family" (Lee 182), but Alexandra can't see past Calpurnia's race to see her importance to the family. This is another example of Atticus showing his children how to see beyond race or the color of one's skin to see the true person.
ReplyDeleteAtticus let Aunty say what she wanted in the beginning but now Atticus is deciding to agree or disagree with her. The first big disagreement between these two is when Aunty says they don't need Calpurnia, going as far too say "...you've got to do something about her."(Lee 182). Atticus knows what Calpurnia brings to the family and likes what she has molded his kids into so far. Atticus also states that "...the children love her."(Lee 183). Atticus clearly thinks that Calpurnia brings something that Aunty doesn't and he wanted to make that clear to her.
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