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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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In To Kill A Mockingbird, how does Maycomb receive Alexandra?

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Scout tells us in chapter 13 that Maycomb welcomed Aunt Alexandra. Miss Maudie made her a cake; Miss Stephanie Crawford had long visits with her; Miss Rachel had Aunt Alexandra over for coffee in the afternoon; and Mr. Nathan Radley went out of his way to tell her that he was glad to see her. 

"Aunt Alexandra seemed as if she had always lived with us.  Her Missionary Society refreshments added to her reputation as a hostess (she did not permit Calpurnia to make the delicacies required to sustain the Society through long reports on Rice Christians; she joined and became Secretary of the Maycomb Amanuensis Club.  To all parties present and participating in the life of the county, Aunt Alexandra was one of the last of her kind: she had river-boat, boarding-school manners; let any moral come along and she would uphold it; she was born in the objective case; she was an incurable gossip."  (pg 129)

Scout tells us that Aunt Alexandra fitted into the society of Maycomb

".....like a hand into a glove." (pg 133) 

 Aunt Alexandra shows great pride in the fact that her family has been in the area for a long time.  She felt that the longer your family had been in the area, the finer your family.  Scout points out in the book that that theory would make the Ewell's very fine people. Aunt Alexandra was very proud of the Finches, and she held her head up high and planned to represent them in fine style.

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