Aunt Alexandra

Aunty Knows Best
Aunt Alexandra’s Thoughts After She Says, “We’ll see about this.” (177)

First of all, how dare she! I feel like I’m raising two crude boys, in the stead of the gentleman and lady I feel I am owed! My brother was always vacant in our childhood, but I will not allow him to corrupt a whole new generation of Finches, especially now that I see how Francis is turning out! You know, I’m rather sure that the problem with that little brat Francis is that he must have spent too much time with these uncouth children of Atticus. Oh, Atticus… talk about dishonoring our ancestors! Of all the pristine ancestors my dear addlepated brother could have told his children about, he tells them about Cousin Joshua, and he doesn’t even mention his wonderful book. I honestly feel that my brother Atticus has no regard for the history our family has worked so hard to create, so no wonder I feel I have to take control if our generation is to go in any direction but down. I see I must speak to my brother if anything is to be done about these hooligans; it is obvious they have no respect for me. This disrespectful streak cannot be allowed to spread in our family, as it has spread in so many others, such as those Ewells and Cunninghams. Finches will persevere, Finches will rise, and Finches will prosper as is expected of us. I will have no counterproductive speeches from Atticus against our family, especially after the last time I came over… it was in the spring of 1928 I believe. Perhaps it was in 1929. I was doing my best to drill into their heads the importance of family, when they had the nerve to bring up Jonathan Finch, who they of course referred to as “Mad Jack Finch”. True, he lived in the woods and had a bit of an eccentric streak, but I know how people say he’s as far removed from being a Finch as you can be while still maintaining the regal posture inherent in our family. I’m sure that great-uncle of theirs got it from his mother, my aunt. He did have a few unusual hygiene habits, but he also wrote a manual on a new rabbit-skinning method he discovered, which Atticus seemed to have glossed over. I see the trend here, with my brother always seeming to forget to credit our ancestors for their achievements, and instead press forward a side of them which should not be discussed. Ah well, I hope that my good influence will help his children shape up and become the respectable people I know they can be if they at least attempt to, which they are so far honestly not doing.