Scout learns many negative aspects about her Aunt
Alexandra during the course of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
Scout begs Atticus to skip the Christmas visit to Finch Landing because of her dislike
of Alexandra and her grandson, Francis (Scout's cousin). Scout recognizes her aunt's
high and mighty ways, especially concerning her misplaced pride concerning previous
generations of the Finch family. Scout hates Alexandra's attempts to make her more
lady-like, and she resents her aunt's haughty presence when she comes to stay with
Atticus during the Tom Robinson trial. Alexandra is particularly cruel to Scout when she
refuses to allow Walter Cunningham Jr. to visit the Finch home, calling him
"trash."
However, Aunt Alexandra is not all bad. Scout sees
her good side at the Missionary Circle meeting after Atticus reveals that Tom Robinson
has been killed. Scout even determines that "if Aunty can be a lady at a time like this,
so could I." Perhaps Alexandra's best moment comes after the children have been attacked
by Bob Ewell. When her aunt brings clothes to put on afterward, Scout is stunned to see
that
... Aunty
brought me my overalls. "Put these on, darling," she said, handing me the garments which
she most despised.
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