Aunt Alexandra Chem Character Analysis Essay

Meghan Sperling

Honors 10, 4th hour

1-26-2023

Character Analysis Essay

Stereotypical women can't be compassionate, right? In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra Hancock comes into the storyline and became a main character toward the middle to end of the novel. Alexandra is asked to stay with her brother, Atticus, and his family so she could be a feminine influence on her niece, Scout. Although she does a lot of background events throughout the story, she plays a huge role in character development, not only for herself but for many other characters. From beginning to end she goes from being unappreciated by her niece to finally being understood. Scout realized what an important part of her life her Aunt would play a role

It is easily noticeable that Aunt Alexandra portrays a stereotypical, southern woman role. Alexandra wished nothing more than for her niece, Scout, to be more ladylike. She references Scout's manners and clothes many times throughout the novel. Scout stated, “I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants” (Lee, 81). Alexandra Hancock believed that women had their place in society and they should stick to it. If you were a lady, you should act like one by gossiping, wearing dresses, and having tea parties. Although they weren’t technically tea parties, Aunt Alexandra hosted and attended missionary teas while she was staying in Maycomb County. Scout tells us, “Of course some afternoons when I would run inside for a drink of water, I would find

Scout tells us that she only enjoyed going to family Christmas because her Aunt always cooked. Alexandra was compassionate enough to take on the role of cooking for her large family, making sure they were well-fed with delightful food and I’m sure the table was always set to pristine perfection simply because that's who Alexandra was. She never called anyone anything other than their name because it was the formal thing to do. Up until one day when her brother, Atticus, lost his trial, and that's when something slipped that shocked everyone. Scout tells us, “‘I’m sorry, brother,’ she murmured. Having never heard her call Atticus ‘brother’ before, I stole a glance at Jem…” (Lee, 212). Alexandra knew that Atticus was upset and calling him brother was her best attempt to comfort him, but the ultimate act of comfort and compassion is shown at the end of the novel. When her niece and nephew came home after being brutally attacked by a rabid man out to get their father. Alexandra hands her niece, Scout, her overalls. Scout uttered, “... in her distraction, Aunty brought me my overalls. ‘Put these on, darling,’ she said, handing me the garments she most despised” (Lee, 264). This was the biggest character development for Alexandra. Whilst all she wanted for Scout was to be a lady and wear dresses, in that moment she understood that all Scout needed was the piece of clothing she