Thursday, September 22, 2016

What does Francis get for Christmas? (4 things)

We learn that Aunt Alexandra's grandson Francis is deposited with her every Christmas and that Scout doesn't like him. She writes that he:

enjoyed everything I disapproved of, and disliked my ingenuous diversions.

There is, however, some pathos about Francis, whose parents don't seem much interested in him. We learn that his parents don't spend Christmas with him.

Henry and his wife deposited Francis at his grandparents’ every Christmas, then pursued their own pleasures.

Scout is therefore forced to spend time with Francis during Christmas at Finch's Landing, the old Finch ancestral estate. When she asks him what he got for Christmas, Francis tells her he got what he asked for: "a pair of knee-pants, a red leather booksack, five shirts and an untied bow tie." It's hard to imagine any boy, even Francis, asking for nothing but clothes. This must be what his indifferent parents purchased for him.
The contrast in their presents reflect the contrasts in their situations. While Scout tells Francis about her air gun (Jem gets one too) and Jem's chemistry set, Francis may be exhibiting jealousy when he says the chemistry set must be a toy, which she denies, and when he asks her what use her plan to make invisible ink is.
Later, Francis taunts her by insulting Atticus, leading to a fist fight.


In chapter 9, the Finch family gathers together to celebrate Christmas at Finch’s Landing, and Scout is forced to hang out with her preppy, arrogant cousin, Francis Hancock. After exchanging presents, Scout is forced to entertain Francis, and the two relatives begin discussing what they received for Christmas. When Scout asks Francis what he got for Christmas, Francis tells her: "a pair of knee-pants, a red leather booksack, five shirts and an untied bow tie" (Lee, 83). Scout responds by lying to her cousin and says, "That's nice" (Lee, 83). Scout then tells Francis that she and Jem received air rifles and Jem got a chemistry set. Scout proceeds to tell Francis that Jem plans on making some invisible ink with his chemistry set that she will use to write Dill a letter. Scout mentions that speaking to Francis gives her the sensation of "settling slowly to the bottom of the ocean," and the two relatives end up getting into a fight after Scout punches Francis in the face.

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