The second clash occurs over Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra is scandalized to find out that the children went to First Purchase with Calpurnia, and is even more shocked when scout expresses the desire to visit Calpurnia outside of home. Atticus, although he is initially mildly surprised, remains unperturbed; rather he seems to enjoy Scout's account of the church trip. He sees no harm in letting Scout visit Calpurnia, and would have probably agreed if Aunt Alexandra had not intervened, and said no. According to Aunt, Scout would be wrongly influenced if she is in the company of the black community, because her racial prejudice makes her feel that blacks are all bad, simply because of their dark complexion. She is also socially prejudiced as she cares about what people will say if a white girl from the 'respectable' Finch family is found in the company of blacks. Atticus knows that it will not harm Scout if she mingles with Calpurnia outside home, because he does not rely on the myth that all blacks are evil; rather he judges Calpurnia as an individual, and knows that she will never wrongly influence Scout or Jem.
The third clash is related to the previous one in the sense that it also concerns Calpurnia. Aunt Alexandra feels that the children are getting too close to Calpurnia, and she feels that this is not good because she is a mere black cook. She urges Atticus to fire Calpurnia, but for once Atticus refuses to comply and stands up to his sister, declaring that Calpurnia is an integral part of the household. Atticus looks beyond blood ties and skin color and judges Calpurnia by her high moral standards, saying, 'Cal's lights are pretty good'. Atticus shows his tolerance by referring to Calpurnia as a surrogate mother for the children, regardless of the fact that she is a poor black cook. This theme of tolerance is also portrayed in Calpurnia, when she tells Lula to allow the children into First Purchase, on the basis of a common God. This shows that Calpurnia's family values are similar to Atticus's, in contrast to Aunt Alexandra, who is his blood sister.
The fourth clash occurs over Dill, when he runs away from his parents and comes to the only place he ever considered home: the Finch household. Atticus displays his family values when instead of scolding Dill for this act of mischief, he realizes that it is a cry of help on the part of a child who has been treated by his parents with apathy and disregard– perhaps the worst crime a parent can commit. Atticus fulfills the role of a parent by nurturing Dill when he needs it most, providing him with food, shelter and more importantly trust and support. Although aunt Alexandra does not voice her disapproval, it is evident that she is appalled. In previous chapters we learned through Francis, that she regards Dill as a stray dog, because he does not have a proper family. She does not see the little boy deprived of love; she is too scandalized by his broken family.
Minor, and much more subtle skirmishes between the two very different set of family values also occur. These include the fact that Aunt Alexandra is continually forcing Scout to wear dresses and act 'like a proper Southern girl', while Atticus pretty much lets Scout do whatever she wants. Aunt Alexandra's narrow mindedness and her strife to raise up the children according to Maycomb society's conservative system, show how inflexible she is and just how afraid to break away from the rules society has et up. This is a drastic contrast to Atticus's liberal parenting style, and the fact that he pays no heed to what society might think, and does what he thinks is right.
Despite the fact that he is in the right, Atticus tolerates his sister's strong-headedness, and even tries to go along with her wishes where he can. On her insistence he tries to tell Jem and Scout to behave in a manner fitting of the Finches; he even tells Scout to apologize to her aunt when she is rude, even though Aunt had no right to interfere. Although Aunt appears inflexible and narrow minded, it must be kept in mind that her eagerness tom rear Jem and scout and her pride in the Finch name, shows that she cares deeply for the family.
Although the clashes are shown between Aunt Alexandra and Atticus, it is actually a much greater struggle between two great forces. Aunt Alexandra represents the conservative side of Maycomb, and the inflexible, narrow-minded thinking of her time. Atticus, along with Calpurnia and his children depict a style of thinking too modern for that time; a feeling of tolerance and acceptance and the ability to look past a person's exterior.
