Calpurnia Motherly Figure

Towards Jem, we see instances in Calpurnia in which she almost seems soft. For example, after Jem wrecks Mrs. Dubose’s camellia, and the kids were skulking around, Calpurnia knew Jem was upset, and gave him a hot biscuit-and-butter. One may argue this is the beginning of a change in Calpurnia, but we may look at it as Cal just being a mom. One can refute the argument of change that Scout is just beginning to see the good side of her and why Cal does what she does. She has already gone through the phases with her own children, and know how it is herself growing up. In the middle of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem is starting to grow up and is becoming a teenager. This is evident by Scout’s overwhelming frustration with Jem in the quote, “His maddening superiority was unbearable these days. He didn’t want to do anything but read and go off by himself.” (Lee 184) Calpurnia, being the experienced mother/caregiver she is, had seen that, and started giving Jem his space, and started calling him “Mister Jem”. Scout realizes Calpurnia is not as bad as she once thought. Scout realizes Calpurnia can be nice when given the chance.

On the other hand, Aunt Alexandra faced a different but common obstacle, prejudice. Since prejudice was ubiquitous, Aunt Alexandra demonstrated maturity when she became more accepting of others especially Calpurnia, Boo and Scout. Aunt Alexandra, Scout and Jem’s caretaker, had some difficulties interacting and talking around people who were a different race or a lower social or economic class. When Aunt Alexandra first met Calpurnia, the African-American maid who worked in the Finch’s house, she despised her and all of her actions. No matter what Calpurnia did or what she said, she could not please Aunt Alexandra. However, later on in the novel, Aunt Alexandra developed a more accepting attitude towards Calpurnia. She allowed Calpurnia to serve the children dinner. This shows how much Aunt Alexandra has grown to be more accepting of other races and not be prejudice. Not only does Aunt Alexandra accept Calpurnia for who she is, but she also learns to accept Scout. “She brought me something to put on, and had I thought about it then, I would have never let her forget it: in her distraction, Aunty brought me my overalls” (Pg.264).

“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.

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.

1. Atticus and his sister disagree on many things, mostly the treatment of colored people and how important the reputation of the finch family is. Alexandra believe that she is above colored people, especially Calpurnia and that Atticus shouldn’t let his children go to church her because it’s a disgrace to their family. Atticus believe that colored people deserve the same amount of respect as white people and that Calpurnia is a member of the finch family and should be treated like one.

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

She tells scout, "Baby… I just can't help it if Mr. Jem is growing up… so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. Will find lots of things to do in here." (154). This shows that Calpurnia is not only their housekeeper but she is also like a mother to Scout and Jem. During a conversation between Atticus and Alexandra, Atticus tells Alexandra "If anything she's been harder on them than a mother

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

Calpurnia plays one role in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Calpurnia is the maid or nanny you could say for Jem and Scout since they lost their mother at a young age. She is black but often shows a side of her that would not resemble a black person for example: the way she talks, who she spends her time with the most, and how she is treated. Although Calpurnia is around white people for majority of her time she also has another side to her that the kids do not often see.

What if it was possible to learn lessons outside of school? In the book To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee the main characters, Scout and Jem Finch, learn much more outside of school than inside of school with the help of their father, Atticus Finch. The children are living through a rough time in their small town, Maycomb and need help along the way. Atticus is a strong part of the kids success in their lives even if people don’t agree with his decisions. Atticus is a great role model for not only his kids but for the readers of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Due to this Alexandra thinks Calpurnia, the family maid, should get fired. She believes this because she is there now and didn't see how Cal could help. Atticus can't let this happen so he doesn't want to hear a single bit. Atticus tells Alexandra that Cal has been part of the family since the beginning and means a lot to his kids. She has been the woman’s figure in Jem and Scouts life.

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,

Another person that disillusioned Jean Louise was Calpurnia. In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, Calpurnia was looked at as a mother figure by Scout and Jem. She became more and more of a mother figure to Scout towards the end of the book. In ‘Go Set A Watchman’, Calpurnia leaves the Finches’ home when Jem dies. After a while, Jean Louise went to go visit Calpurnia and Zeebo. There, she talked to Calpurnia. They talked for a while, but it was time for Jean Louise to go home. Before she left, she said “ Jean Louise rose to go. “Tell me one thing, Cal,” she said, “just one thing before I go-please, I’ve got to know. Did you hate us?” The old woman sat silent, bearing the burden of her years. Jean Louise waited. Finally, Calpurnia shook her head.” As

Calpurnia cares for Scout and Jem as her own and she works very hard to teach, discipline, and love the children, especially Scout, who has needed more guidance from a younger age. Atticus has helped Scout to realize the things that Calpurnia does for her and Jem by explaining to her “‘I’ve no intention of getting rid of her, now or ever. We couldn’t operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You think about how much Cal does for you, and you mind her, you hear?’”(33). Although the work of Calpurnia had gone unnoticed to young Scout, she later realized the importance and love that she has brought to the family.

Calpurnia is a much more positive caregiver, as she is a strict disciplinarian, but to a lesser degree than Aunt Alexandra. Likewise she is not a hypocrite; she could comment on the ways of white people because she has been raised in a white environment.