When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with the
children for a while, she brings ancient Maycomb history with her. Thus, the reader is
entertained with various humorous (although Aunt Alexandra may not see it that way) tales
regarding both the area and the Finch history.
Aunt Alexandra prides herself
on being from one of the oldest and most socially respectable families in town and looks with
condescension upon families of lesser standing. It's pretty funny, then, when she grabs a book
titled Meditations of Joshua S. St. Clair, determined to tout some family
history to the children andasks if this is the same cousin of theirs who "was locked up for
so long." Interestingly, this cousin whom Aunt Alexandra wants the children to admire based
on his publications has also been convicted of trying to shoot the local university president.
This does not concern Aunt Alexandra, who leaves the room to askto impress upon his children
that they are not "from run-of-the-mill people." Aunt Alexandra cannot reconcile any
view that conflicts with the upstanding, respectable Finch family.
This leads
to another humorous situation based on Cousin Joshua. After Atticus speaks to the children,
telling them that Aunt Alexandra wants them to behave in more civilized ways and to represent
the family well (and better than she thinks they are currently doing), the kids get worried.
Finally,asks Atticus if this is going to change the relationship they enjoy with their father;
Atticus is thus reminded of what is truly important in raising his children, and he tells Scout
to forget everything he said. He then turns to her with a sly comment:
Get more like Cousin Joshua every day, don't I? Do you think I'll
end up costing the family five hundred dollars?
Atticus
uses the sordid family history as a point of tension release, making sure his children know that
he is the same father he has always beenforthright and honest. And he does so at Cousin Joshua's
expense.
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