A Woman's Work

He says: In Chapter 13, Aunt Alexandra comes to live with Atticus, Jem and Scout. She's there, perhaps against Atticus' better judgment, in order to exert a woman's influence on Jem, and especially on Scout, who is growing up a little too tomboy-ish for Aunt Alexandra, and moreover, isn't living up to the Finch family name.

In the last few pages of the chapter, Atticus lays down the law to Jem and Scout. It is clear that he is doing so at Aunt Alexandra's insistence and even using her own words.

As Atticus was leaving the room, Scout asked him:

"You really want us to do all that? I can't remember everything Finches are supposed to do...."

Atticus is unable to maintain the demeanor that Aunt Alexandra insisted on; he replies:

"I don't want you to remember it. Forget it."

Atticus leaves, but then sticks his head back in the door to make a little joke.

The last couple of sentences of the chapter are:

I know now what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work.

Scout, those two sentences stumped me. Something that will make sense later when I've read more of the book? Or did I miss something?

She says:  As much as it pains me to admit this, my interpretation of Scout's line at the end of the chapter involves a word synonymous with plenty of women I know...meddling.

(note: I do not entirely exclude myself from the meddling-women category...I'm a meddler...I meddle at times :-)

No one can deny that Aunt Alexandra appears at this juncture in the book to meddle.  To serve her own selfish needs, she is attempting to salvage the dive bomb the Finch's reputation is taking as a result of Atticus's taking on Tom Robinson's case.  The level of interference and manipulation being exercised on the part of "Aunty" is not unique to her, and her alone.

Most women, whether they know it or not, are endowed with the ability to use their gender to their advantage, whether that means applying the warmth of a mother's touch to a skinned knee, the application of a patient smile to the frustrating cashier at the department store or the ability to act like a complete idiot to coax a smile from a baby.  We think, we feel, we express ourselves differently than most men.  Some women may choose to use their powers for evil (a perfect example being characters like Aunt Alexandra).  Thank goodness for men like Atticus to set the balance of power right again and keep the universe in check.

I would love to hear alternate interpretations to the lines you captured as I believe we have only skimmed the surface of this vague, but profound chapter in Lee's narrative.  As I read this chapter, I was made keenly aware of the foreshadowing taking place as we near the dramatic courtroom and legal case that will teach Scout, Jem, and Atticus the lesson of their lives.