Question

Aunt Alexandra has been trying to get Scout to act like a proper Southern lady for a long time. Write a paragraph giving evidence from the last two chapters that Scout can behave like a real lady and not just a "surface" one.

Answer 1

One of the main concerns of Aunt Alexandra throughout the novel is the fact that Scout does not seem to behave in the way that she wants her to. Aunt Alexandra believes that the Finches have a certain positive reputation that they have to uphold, and that this will not be possible unless Scout behaves like a lady.

One example of how she complains about Scout's behaviour is the fact that she does not like Scout's clothes. She believes a girl should wear a dress. When Scout argues that she cannot do anything if she is wearing a dress, Aunt Alexandra replies that she should not be doing anything that requires her to wear pants. However, Aunt Alexandra does admire the fact that Scout can be a "real lady" when it comes to her family, as she is protective of them and loyal in the same way that Aunt Alexandra is.