The question of whether Bailey is the grandmother’s son has been a long-standing one. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, the character of Bailey is a mysterious figure. He is the eldest son of Atticus Finch, the protagonist of the novel. While the reader is led to believe that he is the son of Atticus’ father, there is a possibility that he could be the son of Atticus’ mother, the grandmother.
Background on Bailey
Bailey is a major character in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. He is the eldest son of Atticus Finch and has two siblings, Jem and Scout. He is a kind and gentle man who helps Atticus with his work and looks after his siblings. He is also a good friend of Dill, the neighbor’s son.
Bailey’s age is not specifically stated in the book but he is older than Atticus’ other two children. He is described as being tall and thin, with a shock of untidy brown hair.
Evidence that Bailey is Atticus’ Father’s Son
There are several pieces of evidence that suggest that Bailey is the son of Atticus’ father, the grandfather.
Atticus refers to Bailey as his brother, and he is not the only one to do so. At one point, Aunt Alexandra refers to him as her “brother” as well. This implies that Bailey is Atticus’ paternal brother and not his maternal brother.
In addition, the novel states that Atticus’ father was a doctor, and that Bailey had inherited his medical skills. It is possible that he was taught these skills by his father, rather than his mother.
Finally, it is stated in the novel that Bailey had gone to fight in World War I. This is unlikely to have been done by the son of a woman, as women were not allowed to fight in the war.
Evidence that Bailey is Atticus’ Mother’s Son
Despite the evidence that suggests that Bailey is the son of Atticus’ father, there are also pieces of evidence that suggest that he could be the son of Atticus’ mother, the grandmother.
The first is that, throughout the novel, the grandmother is shown to have an unusually close relationship with Bailey. She is very protective of him and is often seen looking after him and worrying about him. This could suggest that he is her son, rather than her son-in-law.
In addition, it is stated in the novel that the grandmother has a strained relationship with Atticus’ father. This could mean that Bailey is not the father’s son, as the grandmother may not have wanted to raise a child of his.
The grandmother is also described as being a “strong-willed woman”. This could suggest that she was able to have a child without the help of a man, which would make Bailey her son.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the question of whether Bailey is the grandmother’s son is one that remains unanswered. While there is evidence to suggest that he is the son of Atticus’ father, there is also evidence to suggest that he could be the son of Atticus’ mother. It is likely that, even if Harper Lee had wanted to answer this question definitively, she was unable to due to the novel’s lack of direct evidence.