"To Kill A Mocking Bird" By:Harper Lee/ Alter Egos and Foils

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

By:Harper Lee

Prompt: Characters who reflect aspects of Scout's own character are known as alter egos. Those who are sharply different serve as foils. A careful study of these character relationships help to show the network of personalities in Maycomb and how they shape Scout's life.

This month my class has been reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" by: Harper Lee it has been a great experience reading this book. Normally I wouldn't pick a book like this but it has taught me to be peaceful but also to be a gentlemen. I learned this from Aunt Alexandra and Atticus, they have many things uncommon ideas but also many common ideas. Aunt Alexandra is not liked by Jem and Scout mainly because when she first got there she told them "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. ". The problem was they thought that Calpurnia ( The maid) was a good enough feminine figure. She is also different from Atticus because she has Maycombs usual disease (to have racial thoughts)  but Atticus doesn't have the usual disease. We know this because he is fighting for Tom Robinson even though he is of colored race. Lastly they are different because of the way they treat more needy people. Atticus will help the more needy if they need his help even if he will only get paid in food. Aunt Alexandra doesn't want Scout or Jem to play with Walter because he is really poor and they should be see hanging around him. "She took off her glasses and stared at me. "I'll tell you why," she said. "Because—he—is—trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what."On the other hand Atticus belives everyone is the same.

Aunt Alexandra and Atticus are almost completely different from each  other but they are also very similar. Aunt Alexandra moved to Maycomb to be with the family so she could be a feminine figure for scout and also so she could help them out. This tells me that she moved for the better of the family , Atticus also has taking care of the Jem and Scout in his mind. He has been there as there father but he has also been there to teach them a little bit about life and how to get through it. This tells me they are similar because they both want the best for Jem an Scout whether its to be a father figure or a mother figure. They are also similar because they both want to uphold the family name just in different ways. Atticus wants to do it by doing what he believes is right and believing people will follow in his foot steps. Aunt Alexandra on the other hand wants the family to act like a gentlemen and lady like. Even if it means hurting other people that Jem and Scout are good friends with.

Aunt Alexandra and Atticus have different relationships with Scout. Aunt Alexandra is a foil there are an enormous amount of reasons why she is a foil. One of the reasons she is a foil is because she is a very well dressed and popular woman. Scout is completely the opposite, scout is a person who dresses how ever she likes whether people like it or not. She also is not that popular because she doesn't usually talk to new people but she speaks out for others. The second reason how she is a foil is because she is a very demanding person she would like things to go her way. Scout is different then her though she is more lenient and believes in being free. This brings us to Atticus the alter ego, I mainly believe he is the alter ego because of three connections I made with them. First Atticus and Scout both like to read from reading Atticus and Scout get to bond more especially since in Scouts grade they can read together. Second Atticus has taught hear to love others and care for others even if they aren't the same race. " . . If I didn't take this case then I wouldn't be able to hold my head up, I wouldn't be about to tell anyone what to do, not even you and Jem.". This tells me that scout knows just how to act and not to catch Maycombs disease. Lastly Atticus has just influenced  Scout in a way that will help her in life and help her be more equal to others.