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Examples Of Hypocrisy In To Kill A Mockingbird

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To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a phenomenal book that illustrates the theme of hypocrisy. Aunt Alexandra, Mrs. Merriwether, and Miss Gates are perfect examples of the hypocritical people who live in Maycomb County. Aunt Alexandra came to stay with Scout and Jem so that they could have a woman in their life. When the Meditations of Joshua S. St. Clair book was brought up on page 176, Aunt Alexandra told Jem that “your cousin wrote this... he was a beautiful character.” Jem responded to her by asking her if it “is the Cousin Joshua who was locked up for so long?” (176). He then proceeded to say: “Said he tried to shoot the president. Said Cousin Joshua said he wasn’t anything but a sewer-inspector and tried to shoot him with an old …show more content…

Even though Jem knew that Cousin Joshua was the complete opposite of a saint, Aunt Alexandra defended him because he was family. However when Scout expressed her idea to invite Walter Cunningham over, Aunt Alexander told her, “We’ll see about that... they’re not our kind of people... you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines... he’ll never be like Jem” (299-300). When Scout asks her if she would have a different opinion on the matter if Walter was family, Aunt Alexandra responded to her by saying, “The fact that he is not kin to us, but if he were, my answer would be the same” (300). Aunt Alexandra defended her position when she told Scout that it is “because he is trash, that's why you can’t play with him” (301). Aunt Alexandra’s hypocritical ways showed when she told Scout that she would always see Walter the same, kin or not. She contradicted herself when she said that because the only reason she defended Cousin Joshua was due to the fact that he was indeed related to her. Yet, when it came to her views on Walter, Aunt Alexandra sees him as below her even though he was most likely a better person then Cousin Joshua. Another example of a hypocritical person is Mrs. Merriwether. She was

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In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, written by Harper Lee, things can change in the blink of an eye. It can go from a peaceful taciturn summer morning to all hell broken loose. And for Aunt Alexandra, change comes extremely faster then anyone would ever expect. She would be one of the most imprudent and disrespectful person anyone would know to a caring, respected person who wouldn't despise anyone by their skin or gender.

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Some readers may debate that Scout's Aunt Alexandra’s influences has a stronger effect on her, but those people might not take into account all of the negative effects she had on Scouts mentality. " Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. 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. Aunt Alexandra's vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father's lonely life" (Lee 81). Aunt Alexandra constantly wanted Scout to be something she was not simply to fit into the typical southern woman mold.

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This incident shows the reader that she wants to be taken seriously by her colleagues. It also displays that Hilly deeply treasures her reputation because of her reaction towards the situation. On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra has also shown the reader signs that she values her family’s reputation. In chapter 23 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra did not allow Scout to play with Walter Cunningham because of his poor background. She said, “Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him.

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In chapter nine Scout recalls that for much of her early life her Aunt was just there. As Scout grows older Aunt Alexandra starts to critiques her attire and behavior. Scout quotes her aunt as having said, “I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches…she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants” (9.108). Aunt Alexandra turns against her brother as well; she refused to support him during his court case, betraying her brother and family. She’s in a way teaching Scout how not to act.

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In the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee uses negative connotation and vivid symbolism to persuade that being judged by an outward appearance or backstory can affect a person negatively and make the judgers feel superior. Lee uses an outstanding amount of characters to persuade this but some distinctive characters that she uses is Aunt Alexandra and the Cunningham’s. Lee also uses the Ewells and Tom Robinson to persuade her meaning. In chapter twenty-three Scout asks Aunt Alexandra if she can play with Walter Cunningham but Aunt Alexandra declines the request and does not give Scout permission to play with Walter. She explains why plus starts to judge Walter.

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At one point in the book, Scout wishes to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner when school starts, but Aunt Alexandra forcefully tells her that is not an option. Scout becomes confused. She questions her aunt and tells her that they are “good folks,” but Alexandra snaps back saying that they’re not “our kind of folks.” The argument eventually leads to Alexandra yelling at Scout and stating that Walter is trash. Her words acquire a huge reaction from Scout.

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For instance, Scouts relationship with Jem shows that she turns to him for comfort. Scout looks up to Jem and wants to be like him. This explains her the way she dresses and acts, she is known to behave like a tomboy, probably because she has grown up with males surrounding her. That is why, Atticus's’ sister, Alexandra, came to stay with the family. However, Aunt Alexandra is a fighting lady who wants to turn Scout into an ideal women, which Scout does not agree with.

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How is the racial problem of the southern states of USA in the 1930s portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird? INTRO In the 1930s the Southern states of America suffered from a strong discrimination and racial hatred towards colored people. They had no rights, no respect and were not allowed to go places white people went. In other words they were segregated from the rest of the society.

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To begin, Aunt Alexandra is one of the many voices of hypocrisy in the book. Aunt Alexandra is a symbol of old southern charm and what woman were supposed to act like in the 1930s. She lives by the fact that family is the most important thing in life. She judges

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