Bringing Up Children

The novel presents material for an interesting study of various kinds of relationship between parents and children. Dill's parents are simply not interested in him. Aunt Alexandra's son "left home as soon as was humanly possible". He and his wife deposit their son with his grandparents every Christmas in order to pursue their own pleasures. Mayella Ewell suffers from neglect and cruelty from her father. The Radleys' shame and excessive, anxiety stifle and suffocate the personality of their younger son, Arthur. Jem and Scout, on the other hand, are brought up with tolerance, reason, and a sense of compassion, a set of values.
     
 
Activities
1
 Atticus and Aunt Alexandra hold very different views on the bringing up of children. Discuss in detail how their views differ. In your answer consider:
• With what aspects of their development is Atticus concerned?
• With what aspects is Aunt Alexandra concerned?
2
 Describe in detail how Jem and Scout's childhood and relationship with their father differed to that of Mayella Ewell, Boo Radley and Dill.
3
 Consider the different family relationships in the novel. What do you think of the novel's suggestion that individual members of the same family more often than not run true to type? In considering this question, pay attention to what the novel says about why this is so, noticing especially what Atticus has to say about heredity versus environment.
 
     
   
To Kill a Mockingbird: An English web site unit devised and developed by George Marotous and Merren Ward.
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