Chapters 22/23 What are Aunt Alexandra’s and Atticus’ definitions of “trash.” How do they differ? - Rohan

Aunt Alexandra's definition of trash is more entitled than Atticus's. When Atticus and Scout are talking about the court case, the subject of white vs. black comes up. Atticus says to Scout that "Whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family that man comes from, that white man is trash." (Lee 295). Atticus is saying if a white man of a higher power disrespects a black man, he is trash. The reason why Atticus says this is because he thinks if a white man uses his power to disrespect or discredit somebody because they are black, then they are taking advantage of the black man and abusing their power, thus making them trash. On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra says "Jean Louise will not invite Walter Cunningham to this house ... Because-He-Is-Trash" (Lee 301). Aunt Alexandra's definition of trash is somebody who is a lower class or less respected than her. Walter Cunningham and the Cunningham family are lower than the Finches in terms of class, so Aunt Alexandra classifies them as trash. Aunt Alexandra's definition of trash is more entitled because if somebody is "less" than her, she can identify them as trash. Atticus's definition of trash is more just because then a person would have to commit an act of racism and abusive power to be classified as trash.