Kevin Thomas, all page numbers are taken from PDF version of book HERE
“You know she’s not used to girls,” said Jem, “leastways, not girls like you. She’s
trying to make you a lady. Can’t you take up sewin‘ or somethin’?” (Lee, 120)
Jem talking to Scout about Aunt Alexandra and how her job is to make her more lady-like.
"Aunt Alexandra smiled brilliantly. 'Stay with us, Jean
Louise,' she said. This was a part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady.
It was customary for every circle hostess to invite her neighbors in for refreshments,
be they Baptists or Presbyterians" (Lee, 122)
Aunt Alexandra invites Scout into the circle of ladies in hopes of her learning more about how to behave more like a true lady
“Don’t you want to grow up to be a lawyer?”
Miss Maudie’s hand touched mine and I answered mildly enough, “Nome, just a lady.”
Miss Stephanie eyed me suspiciously, decided that I meant no impertinence, and
contented herself with, “Well, you won’t get very far until you start wearing dresses more
often.” (Lee, 122)
Miss Stephanie and Scout's conversation on being a lady, and needing to wear dresses if you want to be a lady.
"The ladies were cool in fragile pastel prints: most of them were heavily powdered but
unrouged; the only lipstick in the room was Tangee Natural. Cutex Natural sparkled on
their fingernails, but some of the younger ladies wore Rose. They smelled heavenly." (Lee, 122)
Scout's description of what the ladies looked and smelled like, how a true lady presents herself
"Aunt Alexandra looked across the room at me and smiled. She looked at a tray of
cookies on the table and nodded at them. I carefully picked up the tray and watched
myself walk to Mrs. Merriweather. With my 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, 126)
Scout realizes that even after being told the bad news of Tom's death Aunt Alexandra still behaves like a lady and decides that she must too.
"He was growing taller. When he looked around, he must have thought I would start crying again, for he said, “Show you
something if you won’t tell anybody.” I said what. He unbuttoned his shirt, grinning shyly.
“Well what?”
“Well can’t you see it?”
“Well no.”
“Well it’s hair.”
“Where?”
“There. Right there.”
He had been a comfort to me, so I said it looked lovely, but I didn’t see anything. “It’s
real nice, Jem.”
“Under my arms, too,” he said. “Goin‘ out for football next year" (Lee, 120)
Jem is proud that he is growing armpit hair and becoming a man, which in turn will somehow help his become a better football player.
“You know she’s not used to girls,” said Jem, “leastways, not girls like you. She’s
trying to make you a lady. Can’t you take up sewin‘ or somethin’?” (Lee, 120)
Jem talking to Scout about Aunt Alexandra and how her job is to make her more lady-like.
"Aunt Alexandra smiled brilliantly. 'Stay with us, Jean
Louise,' she said. This was a part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady.
It was customary for every circle hostess to invite her neighbors in for refreshments,
be they Baptists or Presbyterians" (Lee, 122)
Aunt Alexandra invites Scout into the circle of ladies in hopes of her learning more about how to behave more like a true lady
“Don’t you want to grow up to be a lawyer?”
Miss Maudie’s hand touched mine and I answered mildly enough, “Nome, just a lady.”
Miss Stephanie eyed me suspiciously, decided that I meant no impertinence, and
contented herself with, “Well, you won’t get very far until you start wearing dresses more
often.” (Lee, 122)
Miss Stephanie and Scout's conversation on being a lady, and needing to wear dresses if you want to be a lady.
"The ladies were cool in fragile pastel prints: most of them were heavily powdered but
unrouged; the only lipstick in the room was Tangee Natural. Cutex Natural sparkled on
their fingernails, but some of the younger ladies wore Rose. They smelled heavenly." (Lee, 122)
Scout's description of what the ladies looked and smelled like, how a true lady presents herself
"Aunt Alexandra looked across the room at me and smiled. She looked at a tray of
cookies on the table and nodded at them. I carefully picked up the tray and watched
myself walk to Mrs. Merriweather. With my 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, 126)
Scout realizes that even after being told the bad news of Tom's death Aunt Alexandra still behaves like a lady and decides that she must too.
"He was growing taller. When he looked around, he must have thought I would start crying again, for he said, “Show you
something if you won’t tell anybody.” I said what. He unbuttoned his shirt, grinning shyly.
“Well what?”
“Well can’t you see it?”
“Well no.”
“Well it’s hair.”
“Where?”
“There. Right there.”
He had been a comfort to me, so I said it looked lovely, but I didn’t see anything. “It’s
real nice, Jem.”
“Under my arms, too,” he said. “Goin‘ out for football next year" (Lee, 120)
Jem is proud that he is growing armpit hair and becoming a man, which in turn will somehow help his become a better football player.