To Kill a Mockingbird Wiki Project Presents:
TO BE A LADY
Character: Aunt Alexandra
Theme: Empathy
By Gabby Carmichael
All photos All Rights Reserved by Gabby Carmichael ©
MYSELF; IT’S ALL I WANT TO BE
• This is Scout before Aunt Alexandra
came into her life. She is a highspirited 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.
“Truth is neither universal or verifiable,” –Bella Vida
• 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.
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.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a
harder battle,” –Plato
• They finally used empathy to
appreciate what each one did for the
other. Aunt Alexandra protected Scout
while Scout provided color.
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