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Being A Lady In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Being a lady is one of the most important roles for a female in the southern state of Alabama in the 1930’s. It is difficult for children to understand the importance of a role and how it affects the society. One novel that clearly represents children’s oblivious nature is Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. As a female protagonist, Jean Louise “scout” Finch grows up defying the rules of society. As the story continues Scout is told to be more polite and more well behaved by Aunt Alexandra. While not agreeing to be ladylike, Scout begins to learn how crucial it is to be ladylike after witnessing the ladies during the tea party. Scout believes that being tomboyish is superior to being ladylike. Scout gets insulted when told she can’t join what the boys are doing. For example, ”Next morning I found Jem and Dill in the back yard deep in a conversation… When I joined them, as usual, they said go away”(lee 51). Then responds that she will join”Will not… This yard’s as much mine as it is yours, Jem Finch”(51). Later after trying to warn Jem not to go to the Radleys Jem says,”I declare to the Lord you’re gettin’ more like a girl …show more content…

Scout starts to see these importances when Scout attends the tea party with Aunt Alexandra. After the death of Tom Robinson, Aunt Alexandra kept her composure even after receiving tragic news and Scout recognizes her Aunts efforts to stay composed,”With my very best company manners, I asked her if she would have some… After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I”(Lee 272). Scouts statement that she could be a lady shows her newfound appreciation for ladies. Lee's use of the word lady in the quote indirectly characterizes Scout to show that she understand what being a lady is. After Scouts time with Aunt Alexandra, Scout finally understands what it means to be

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Scout was beginning to put away her tomboyish acts and started acting like a young lady, "She seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen, and by watching her I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl". This quote can be seen as a point where Scout started seeing being a girl a good thing rather than bad. Her brother Jem used to make fun of Scout when she would act like a girl, saying that girls are weak. Making this change from being a tough tomboy to a tough girl is a pretty big deal. In chapter 24, when Aunt Alexandra is hosting her missionary tea at the Finch’s Residence, Scout is inside instead of being outside to avoid it.

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