C. How do you think the story (what you read so far) would have changed if Scout and Jem had a mother present in their lives? Would it change for the better or for the worse? Explain your thoughts.

There are many reasons why it would have been good for the children to have a mother present, but also reasons why it would have gone for the worse if they did. I think that if Jem and Scout had a mother present, they would have someone to look out for them more, and would have someone to talk to more. Atticus is usually reading, and doesn't interact with the kids much. In a recent chapter, we see the first time that Atticus really shows affection towards Jem. As well as the mother being there for Jem and Scout, a change in the story would be that the Finch’s wouldn't need Calpurnia. Even if the family did have Calpurnia, they might not need her as much. This is because Calpurnia does the things that the mother would have done if she was there. If Calpurnia didn’t work for the Finch’s to begin with, then maybe Aunt Alexandra wouldn’t have come. That was one of the reasons she went to help the family. Because she doesn’t want a colored person helping them.

A mother is an inspiration to her daughter right? Well that’s one of the reasons that Aunt Alexandra came as well. To give Scout a feminine-influence. If Scout had a mother present, then Aunt Alexandra wouldn’t have come for that either. So basically, if they had a mother, Aunt Alexandra wouldn’t have come at all. Along with that, the Finch’s might not have had Calpurnia. Jem and Scout are like their father and don’t see a difference between the blacks and whites. Calpurnia is black, so that’s one of the reasons they feel the same. If they didn’t have Calpurnia, they wouldn’t have has as much exposure to colored people. Which might have lead them to think differently about them.

These changes could be for the better or for the worse. I think that overall, even though it would have been great for the children to have a mother, it would come for the worst. If Jem and Scout didn’t have Calpurnia around, they might not understand Atticus as well about how he feels about blacks. They treat Calpurnia the same, but if they never had Calpurnia, then the story would have been completely different. Jem and Scout wouldn't have sat with the blacks at the court for example. There are many reasons why it would have been good for the children to have a mother present, but also reasons why it would have gone for the worse if they did.