Aunt Alexandra, who always wants things to be her own way, is not too approving of Scout, who Alexandra's opinion is not ladylike. This should not come as a surprise because Scout is quite a tomboy and Aunt Alexandra has "boarding school manners."
Here is a quote by Aunt Alexandra which shows just that:
Jem's growing up now and you are too," she said to me. "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence.
However, Scout eventually realizes that being a lady is not too bad as she begins to admire her aunt's politeness toward other women, even the ones she does not like. Scout takes this as an example. As she says at the end of chapter 24, "If Aunt Alexandra could be a lady at a time like this, so could I."
To win Aunt Alexandra's favor, Scout decides to dress up as a Southern belle, a stereotype signifying women of decent manners. She even goes on to participate in the missionary circle, where women gather around to talk about God and religion.
Throughout the majority of the novel, Scout has a difficult relationship with her aunt, and the two continually antagonize each another. However, Scout attempts to impress her aunt by dressing up as a Southern belle and participating in the missionary circle with the other local ladies.
Scout, who is a natural tomboy, absolutely hates wearing dresses and participating in social events but does so in chapter 24 to impress her aunt. At the beginning of the chapter, Scout waits patiently in the kitchen and asks Calpurnia if she can help in any way. Calpurnia then allows Scout to carry in a rather heavy silver coffee pitcher on a tray into the living room, where the ladies are having casual conversations. When Scout brings the coffee pitcher in on the tray, she mentions,
My journey was successful: Aunt Alexandra smiled brilliantly (Lee, 233).
Overall, Scout impresses her aunt by wearing a dress and participating in her missionary circle with the other local ladies.
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