Aunt Alexandra means well; for one thing, she understands the importance of establishing boundaries and setting examples when raising children. But, she's far from being an ideal stand-in mother to Jem and Scout.

She's very much set in her ways and has a rather old-fashioned understanding of child-rearing. With some children such an approach to parenting might work, but not Jem and Scout. Atticus has given them a lot of freedom, allowing them to roam around and explore, so much so that they earn the enmity of Mrs. Dubose, among others, for being wild and undisciplined. Aunt Alexandra is also highly critical of Atticus's hands-off approach.

Aunt Alexandra is also incredibly anxious to make sure that Scout grows up to become what she considers to be a Southern lady. But preparing Scout to be the epitome of refinement and good manners is a complete nonstarter. Scout's too much of a free spirit and a tomboy—she is much too attached to wearing breeches to be moulded into Aunt Alexandra's ideal.

Another factor inhibiting Aunt Alexandra's parenting abilities is her implacable belief that virtues and vices alike are genetic, handed down through families from generation to generation. It's difficult to see how good habits of behavior and good conduct can be inculcated if they're largely determined by one's genetic inheritance.

To be fair to Aunt Alexandra, though, it's important to acknowledge that she does have genuine love for her family members, and is fiercely loyal to them. It's simply that her way of showing affection, like her approach to raising children, is very much of the old school.

Aunt Alexandra displays some positive character traits throughout the novel, which are similar to characteristics of good mothers. It is important to remember that Aunt Alexandra has the children's best interest in mind. She values heritage, community service, and behaving respectfully. Alexandra attempts to teach the children about their family history and also tries to influence Scout into becoming a Southern belle. However, Alexandra is overly critical of Scout throughout the novel. She continually offends Scout by acting condescending and criticizing her for behaving like a tomboy. Alexandra also portrays her prejudiced personality by making racist comments and preventing Scout from playing with Walter Cunningham Jr. Despite her negative qualities, Alexandra genuinely cares about the children and displays her softer side towards the end of the novel. The more Scout matures, the more she can relate to her aunt. Aunt Alexandra is also an authority figure that keeps a close eye on the children. 

Aunt Alexandra believes in discipline and family togetherness.  She tries to teach Scout and Jem how to behave like acceptable children of their time - meaning like a little lady and little gentlemen.  She tells them of their family history to give them pride and a sense of belonging.  She tries to protect them from what is happening in town by withholding information from them.

However, the children do not react well to her.  They feel that she is condescending, and that she does not listen to their own opinions.  They prefer the parenting of Atticus, who allows them to establish their own identity and believes in giving them information with which to assess the world around them, in an unbiased manner.

Aunt Alexandra is highly critical of how her brother raises his children. In her opinion, he lets them run wild; he doesn't set appropriate boundaries for their behavior; he teaches them the wrong values; all in all, he isn't doing a very good job of bringing them up properly. Alexandra is especially scathing of how Atticus has raised Scout. Atticus's sister has a rather old-fashioned understanding of how women and girls should behave. She sees herself as a fine, upstanding Southern lady and wants Scout to grow up to be just like her. But as Scout's such a tomboy, always running wild and getting into scrapes and adventures with the boys, that seems like a pretty tall order.

On the whole, Aunt Alexandra is an inadequate stand-in mother for Scout and Jem, but in some ways she supplies the deficiencies of her brother's parenting skills. Setting boundaries for children is very important, and no one needs to tell that to Alexandra. The problem is that the boundaries she sets are a little too restrictive; they don't allow Scout and Jem to go out into the world and explore and discover new things about themselves and their surroundings.

Why is Aunt Alexandra is so important to To Kill A Mockingbird?

Why is Aunt Alexandra is so important to To Kill A Mockingbird?

She also acts as a foil to Calpurnia, the only other woman Scout really remembers in her life.  Scout's mother has been absent, and there are no others.  So, Alexandria comes to live in the house as a mother figure to help Scout become a lady--however, her first error as a resident there is to suggest that Calpurnia is no longer needed in the home. 

Why is Aunt Alexandra is so important to To Kill A Mockingbird?

Aunt Alexandra offers a contrast to her brother Atticus.  As a member of the family, the reader is able to hear Aunt Alexandra's comments as well as observe Atticus' reactions to them.  She represents the voice of the racist townspeople in Maycomb, Alabama while Atticus is the voice of open-minded reason.  Scout, as narrator, is able to report both sides as she hears them within her own house, bringing the reader into her world. 

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, how is Aunt Alexandra motherly to Scout?

Aunt Alexandra is motherly to Scout in ways that Scout doesn't necessarily appreciate:

1. Alexandra likes to declare what's best for the family. Therefore, she often tells Scout about what Scout should do. This includes having an intentional focus on the heritage of the family. She wants Scout to read her cousin's book, and to meet her cousin Lily. Neither of these really impress Scout.

2. Alexandra tries to lead Scout by example. She doesn't really like that Scout happens to be a tomboy, so in addition to wearing appropriate Southern belle clothing, Alexandra encouraging sitting, cooking, and needlework as appropriate ways to spend time.

3. Alexandra thinks that Atticus is not enough of a feminine influence. Furthermore, Alexandra seems to be prejudiced against Cal believing Cal can't influence Scout in a positive way either. Thus, Alexandra takes it upon herself to make Scout wear a dress and go to a Missionary Circle meeting at the Finches house.

Many moms can be overbearing or pressuringly influential. For Scout, this is the type of motherly influence she experiences. Aunt Alexandra doesn't value the individual that Scout already is, but tries to use a woman's manipulation to make Scout into something that she is not.

How is Aunt Alexandra significant in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Aunt Alexandra is significant in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird as a source of opposition to Scout who actually teaches Scout some valuable lessons. Let's examine this in more detail.

Scout is not fond of her Aunt Alexandra. The latter is always urging Scout to act like a lady rather than to run wild with her brother and friends. Aunt Alexandra wants to be a role model for Scout, but she does not go about it in a way that appeals to the young girl, who feels like her aunt is trying to curtail her freedom and make her be someone she is not.

Aunt Alexandra does, however, teach Scout some valuable lessons in the end. At the missionary circle tea, Aunt Alexandra becomes quite upset at the hypocrisy and behavior of the ladies and then at Atticus' report of the death of Tom Robinson. Yet Aunt Alexandra does not allow her feelings to show. She raises her head, pulls herself together, and continues performing her role as hostess to the best of her ability. As Scout watches her aunt, she realizes that there is a side to being a lady that she never knew before. It takes courage. Scout decides that perhaps being a lady is not such a horrible thing after all, and she begins to see the possibility that she might just become one someday.

Aunt Alexandra learns a lesson, too. After the horrible incident with Bob Ewell in which Scout and Jem are almost killed, Aunt Alexandra brings Scout her favorite overalls instead of a dress. Aunt Alexandra is finally beginning to accept Scout for who she is.