In Chapter 21 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the children receive similar treatment from Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra once both caretakers learn the children had been watching the trial all day long. One difference is that Calpurnia scolds them whereas Aunt Alexandra is shocked into hurt silence.When Calpurniafinds the children in the courthouse and marches them back home, she scolds Jem for having taken Scout to the trial and...
In Chapter 21 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, the children receive similar treatment from Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra once both caretakers learn the children had been watching the trial all day long. One difference is that Calpurnia scolds them whereas Aunt Alexandra is shocked into hurt silence.
When Calpurnia finds the children in the courthouse and marches them back home, she scolds Jem for having taken Scout to the trial and says he should be "perfectly ashamed of [himself]." Her main concern seems to be that the trial dealt with matters young children shouldn't hear about, especially children as young as Scout. In contrast, Aunt Alexandra is described as nearly passing out when she learned the children had been at the courthouse, and Scout describes that Aunt Alexandra must have felt hurt once she learns Atticus had said they could return for the verdict. Scout judges Aunt Alexandra's hurt feelings based on the silence she displays during dinner. In Contrast to Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra's main concern seems to be a point of pride. She has always objected to Atticus's decision to defend Tom Robinson because, due to her own prejudices and her belief in staying within the confines of social restraints, she feels it is neither dignified nor justifiable for a white man to defend a black man.
Hence, as we can see based on this scene, while both Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra act as mother figures, their differences in ideals make them treat the children differently.
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