Calpurnia In To Kill A Mockingbird

got along without her all these years.” (Lee, Harper. Pg. 156. To Kill a Mocking Bird. New York: Harper Collins, 1999. Print)

Calpurnia is pressured to meet the expectations set for both women and blacks in Maycomb society, and in many ways she does a good job at conforming to them. Calpurnia works as a nanny to Jem and Scout, which is a common job for black women. As the only adult woman in the household, Calpurnia,of course, keeps order on all things. She is an excellent cook and very strict towards Scout and Jem. Scout has a knack for getting in trouble, so she often complains about Calpurnia’s ‘tyrannical presence’. Despite this, readers often get a glance at Calpurnia’s maternal side. When Jem tells Scout to start acting like a girl, she flees to Cal for support. Although, she can’t give Scout much advice she is able to comfort her. “I just can’t help it if Mister Jem’s growin’ up. He’s gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin’ whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the

Calpurnia was the Finch’s African- american housekeeper. She played a huge role in the parenting of both Scout and Jem because Atticus was an only father. Calpurnia helped Scout become more ladylike at the end of the novel by teaching her proper manners and edict. Scout is a hardcore

“Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em if you can't act fit to eat at the table you can just sit here and eat in the kitchen!” This is just one of the many examples Calpurnia sets for the children. Calpurnia is the Finch’s cook but she takes her role in the children’s life more seriously. She acts as parent; constantly teaching the kids lessons about life and race. She serves as a bridge for Jem and Scout between the white and black communities. Calpurnia could be the mother Jem and Scout never had because she is wise, caring, and patient with the kids.

To begin with, Calpurnia is a coloured housekeeper and a cook for the Finch family which are Atticus (father), Scout (daughter) and Jem (son). She is a confident lady and has "more education than most colored folks" (32). According to the Finch family, they accept her as a part of the family due to Atticus allowing Calpurnia to lecture Scout on her behavior because some white families do not accept the teachings morals from a coloured woman. For instance, when Scout judged on how Walter ate, Calpurnia at that very moment taught her that was not acceptable and is always correcting her manners as well with Jem. Calpurnia is a caring mother who personally treats Jem and Scout as her very own children. Moving on, the Finch family does not judge her due to her skin colour, instead, they trust her.

In the story, Calpurnia plays a role that allows the reader to explore the theme of racism, prejudice, and as well as femininity. Calpurnia acts as a mother figure to both Scout and Jem, especially since they lost their mom when they were young. For Scout specifically, Calpurnia has a huge feminine influence as well since Scout basically grew up without her biological mom and Calpurnia was the woman that helped her get dress, taught her how to write, and took care of her since she was young. Being a tomboy, Scout doesn’t see the benefits of being a lady like how Aunt Alexandra wants her to. However, she learns by watching Calpurnia that “there was some skill involved in being a girl” (154). This shows that Calpurnia, although

Bluntly put, Calpurnia is the Finches' housekeeper in the novel. However, she is so much more to the family. She conducts herself as a mother figure to Jem and Scout, as she practically raised them after their mother's death. Along with Miss Maudie, Calpurnia is a strong, positive female influence in Jem and Scout's lives. She is a parallel to Atticus in her lessons of politeness and compassion and contrasts with Aunt Alexandra's harsh discipline and strict gender roles. In my perception, she is a very significant character that teaches the children how to cope up with challenging situations regarding race and class that arise in the book. This is also my reasons for why I chose her as a character worthy of discussion.

The narrator states, “...She was always ordering me out the kitchen, asking me why I couldn’t behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling me home when I wasn’t ready to come...She had been with us since Jem was born. ”(Pg). Calpurnia has been there for the kids since scout was a baby and never left their side.

Calpurnia, the Finch's nanny, is also a role model throughout the book for Scout, and throughout the book Scout's perceptions about Calpurnia change. Calpurnia has been with the Finch's for a long time, but she still is not really part of the family. When she stays overnight,

Their mother died of a sudden heart attack. She was 15 years younger than Atticus, which made it very unexpected. Scout was only two when her mother died so her memories are vague at best and her trauma was minimal. Jem was six and he remembers more. Scout can tell that he misses their mother. I don’t think the mother’s death would have affected some of the characters in the story as much as it affected her immediate family. The main Person that her death would have the most impact on is Scout and Jems father, Atticus.

When Aunt Alexandra comes to live with the Finch family, she suggests Atticus get rid of Calpurnia. I think that she wants the family cook to leave because she is not related to the Finches. In previous chapters, she has explained the importance of the family name and how Scout should act more like a Finch. While Alexandra thinks that only blood related relatives should be included in a family, Atticus’s idea of family (one of the themes in the book) is to be kind, and loyal. He does consider Calpurnia a part of his family because she has helped so much. I believe she is a mother figure to Scout and Jem because she takes very good care of them. When Atticus says that he won’t fire Calpurnia, he should tell his sister not to discriminate a person

I think Calpurnia is a good mother figure because the kids appreciate her more, and their love for her is stronger. I think that is most important. As Alexandria comes in she is super awkward, does not know how to make a good conversation. Scout starts to notice that especially. If you cannot talk to your supposedly mother figure, then what is the point. Atticus says how she needs more feminine around the house saying she is getting older so she needs advice on clothes and boys. With Alexandria I feel scout will not get that. They mention how Alexandria fits in to Maycomb really well, but does not fit in with Scout and Jem. Now Calpurnia the kids were always exited to see her, as with Alexandria they did not want her to live with them. Alexandria thinks Calpurnia is too harsh on the children, but kids need discipline sometimes. In the end they always say how they need Calpurnia, so it is an obvious Calpurnia is the mother figure Scout and Jem

You look into a house in a small town where you see a little girl playing on the floor playing with her brother. Little does this innocent little girl know how she will change after a series of events that will occur soon in her life. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the reader follows a series of events told in the point of view of the said little girl. She goes through harrowing events that bring her closer to understanding the nature of humans. Throughout the novel though, she abides by her belief that humans have good in them while she grows more mature as the novel progresses.

Consequently, at one point in the novel, Atticus was forced to vouch for Calpurnia, as his sister, Alexandra, was entertaining the idea that Calpurnia must leave. Atticus firmly says “Alexandra, Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to.” Though Calpurnia was aware that Atticus and Alexandra were debating her departure from the job, She never threatened or disrespected Alexandra or the family. She kept on doing her duties and loving the children. Many would’ve quit or angered at how openly Alexandra was speaking of Calpurnia, But Calpurnia kept her head held high and showed all readers the importance of peace,

In “To Kill A Mockingbird” Harper Lee tries to show that just because you have the advantage doesn't always mean you should use it, as shown by the actions of Calpurnia, Atticus, and Mr. Ewell.