To Kill A Mockingbird2 essays

To Kill A Mockingbird2 essays In the mid 1900s there were many types of families. Some families cared not about what other people thought about what they did, but about if it seemed right to them. Other families did not care what people thought nor did they try to behave descent. And still the families who did their best with what they had. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, these three types of families seem best displayed in the Finches, Ewells, and Cunninghams. To begin with, the Finch family, with only one parent, portrays a well-rounded family. First, Atticus Finch raises two children on his own. Jem and Scout, both basically good kids although they grew up with only one parent. They both usually do as Atticus says unless they believe in what they want to do. "Don't go to him, he might not like it. He's all right, lets go home. I just wanted to see where he was." (p.151) Also, Scout has difficulty becoming a young lady. She has no mother figure to show her how a lady should dress and act. Aunt Alexandra moves in with the Finch family to show Scout how to act more like a lady. "Jem's growing up now and you are too. We decided it would be best for you to have some feminine influence." (p.127) "Aunty had a way of declaring What is Best For The Family, and I suppose her coming to live with us was in that category" (p.129) Finally, Jem Finch grows up very responsible with Atticus's influence very strong. Though not having a moth er figure also affects him in that in the beginning he has no respect for the way Scout should dress and act as a lady. Towards the end having Aunt Alexandra as a mother influence helps him to realize Scout's role as a lady. "It's time you started bein a girl and actin' right!" (p. 115) Besides the Finches, the Ewell family, a disgrace to the town of Maycomb, lives in poverty and ignorance. To begin with, Robert Ewell, an abusive, hateful drunk, has no intellect or dignity whatsoever. He l ...