When most people grow up they are a simple plain piece of clay that are waiting to be molded. It takes others and things to help shape, mold, and add color to it which makes the person who they are today. In To Kill a Mockingbird, it is about a young girl living in a small town of Maycomb, and how the town changes her as she grows up. Throughout the story, she is exposed to racism, injustice, and the different perspectives of people. She also learns how to treat others, tolerate them, and be a good person in general. In the town of Maycomb, there are many things that shape her directly such as racism and the feelings of others. However, many things would help guide her through the growing pains of life, such as learning how to deal with others, being a good person, and being able to tolerate people. The …show more content…
Calpurnia is very respectful towards others and tries to treat them generously. Calpurnia says, “‘That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?’” (Lee 32). Calpurnia is basically trying to teach Scout a lesson about treating people in general. Although people may act weird, they can be easily misunderstood. Without Calpurnia’s help in Scout’s education, she would probably have the same reading skills as some of the kids in her classroom of whom many are illiterate. This allows Scout to increase her opportunities and branch out more. In addition, one of the biggest things that really influenced Scout was Calpurnia bridging the white and black cultures together. It might not seem like it would change much, but Scout got massive input from both cultures. When Scout goes to church with Calpurnia, She learns that the blacks are much poorer than whites. Scout also learns that many Blacks cannot read whatsoever and instead sing songs and listen. Calpurnia helps Scout dabble in some of these practices of changing her way of
She learns about race and how it can be very complicated and unfair since she matures and understands the world better around her because of the Tom Robinson Trial. For example, when Atticus has to leave for two weeks and Scout and Jem go to Calpurnia’s church. There they experience racism first-hand and they understood how just because of your skin color you don’t have the same opportunities. In the church, there were no hymn-books because the people couldn’t read as they never got an education, and Scout was very surprised by this: “‘Can’t read?’ I asked, ‘All those folks?’”, here she realizes how such a simple thing as reading even for older people can be so difficult because of their status. In addition, when Lula came up to them and told Calpurnia that she shouldn’t bring white children to a black church Scout felt unwelcomed because of their skin tone “I agreed: they did not want us here”. Sh starts to understand that people judge you so quickly before getting to know you because of your skin tone just like they did to Tom Robinson. In this visit to the church Scout also notices: “There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn-books, church program-the familiar ecclesiastical impedimenta we saw every Sunday” this showed scout how different and unequal life is for blacks compared to whites. Overall when Calpurnia brings Scout to the church she learns a lot of thing about race about the town and the
“Maturity is not measured by age. It’s an attitude built by experience.” This quotation says of how you don’t mature by aging and growing older but maturing by understanding situations and events you are found in and how you deal with those challenges or problems. The definition of maturity is to “have attained a final or desired state.” This means that although some don’t mature ever in life it is of something every human being must do to properly work in an occupation or operation appropriately. The prestigious author Harper Lee writes the story of racism, prejudice and violence in a small Alabama town known as Maycomb. The town of Maycomb- although fake in reality- is derived from the southern
Unlike most of the people in the black community, Calpurnia is able to read and write. It is mentioned by Scout that Calpurnia is the one who taught her how to write because it kept Scout from driving Calpurnia crazy. Equivalently to how Calpurnia is able to read and write, she also talks in a white dialect, unless she is around her people. Upon hearing Calpurnia talk in a different dialect, Scout questions her about it. “Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks’ talk at home it’d be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks’ talk at church, and with my neighbors? They’d think I was puttin’ on airs to beat Moses.” (127). Calpurnia explains that she does it according to the company, so she isn't out of place. The last divergence that readers can notice about Calpurnia is how strict she is towards the kids she watches. Atticus explains that most nannies aren’t strict with them, and don't punish them. “… she’s never let them get away with anything, she’s never indulged them the way most colored nurses do.”
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
Since Calpurnia is so caring and good to the kids, they look at her as more than just the cook, they look at her as if she was a second mother. One day while Atticus was away for the day Calpurnia decided to take the kids to the all-black church with her. When she showed up with Jem and Scout she was getting nasty looks and comments from some of the other church-goers. She just ignored then and led the kids into the church. When church was let out and they began their walk home. This shows that Cal is caring enough to take the kids to church, knowing ahead of time that the other church members were not going to be happy. On their way home Scout asked if she could go visit Calpurnia at her home one day. Calpurnia responded with, “Any time you want to. We’d be glad to have you” (Lee 168). This also shows that Cal is willing to open her house for them anytime they want to come. Due to Calpurnia’s strong opposition to race, the kids aren’t racist. They don’t care about skin color, they want justice for all. Another example of her caring is the time Tim Johnson, the rabid dog, came down the street and headed right towards their house (Lee 123). The kids ran to get Calpurnia and she took
Power is too overpowering sometimes especially for class, gender, and race. TKAM is a book written by Harper Lee in 1960. Mayella Ewell is a white, 19-year-old woman, who accused Tom Robinson, who is Negro, for rape. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s in the South during the Great Depression where there was a recession. Mayella is not a powerful character based on her class, gender, and race compared to Tom Robinson.
She was once confronted at her church when a woman snobbishly asked why two children of the opposite race came to a black church. Calpurnia said they had every right to go with the answer of saying we all worship the same God. (119). Another example is when Scout seems worried and alone when a gap in Jem’s behavior lead him to act up like a regular teenager. And Scout felt like their close relationship could fade away but Calpurnia reassured her saying that they can always play together too. Lee writes: ““Baby,” said Calpurnia, “… you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We’ll find lots of things to do in here.”” (115). In conclusion, Calpurnia not only defends the children but genuinely has compassion for the well-being of Jem and Scout, just like how a mother would.
Calpurnia helps Scout become more lady like by using manners and teaching her how to treat others. For example “ Yo folks might be better than the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothing the way you're disgracing them” (Lee 33) Calpurnia teaches Scout proper manners when she corrects scout for thinking that she is better than Walter Cunningham. Calpurnia Also teaches scout to be respectful. For example “ There’s some folks who don't eat like us, she whispered fiercely, ‘ but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don't. That boy’s yo’ comp'ny and if he wants to eat up the tablecloth you let him, you hear?” (Lee 31). Calpurnia is like a mother figure to Scout and Jem. She taught scout proper manners and how to treat others with respect. Without Calpurnia Scout wouldn't act very lady like. In the example this is scout’s first lesson on being respectful to others who are different. Therefore without Calpurnia Scout wouldn’t learn how to respect and sympathize with others who are
Calpurnia from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is caring. Calpurnia is caring because when they go out and see the mad dog they run in and try to call everyone and to tell them to shut their windows and doors. “Calpurnia stared, then grabbed us by the shoulders and ran us home” (Lee, pg. 123). This connects to the thesis because this shows that she cares about everyone that surrounds her. Cal is trying to protect Jem and Scout with her body from the dog when Atticus tells Cal to go inside. She tried to block us with her body, but we looked out from beneath her arms” (Lee, pg. 126). This quote goes along with Cal being caring because she puts her own body in front so Jem and Scout don’t get hurt. Cal did not want Atticus to miss the shot
Along with these stereotypes comes racism. Jem and Scout first experience racism against them when Calpurnia takes them to her church one Sunday. Another member of Calpurnia’s church berates Calpurnia for bringing Jem and Scout into an all-black church. Calpurina refuses to let berating change her mind about allowing the children to attend her church. Rather than allow the children to go home as Jem suggests, Calpurnia challenges the racism against white people and proclaims that the children are her “comp’ny” (Lee 158). Throughout the novel Calpurnia models the respect that Atticus expects his children to show. Calpurnia complies with her hospitality whenever she is given the opportunity. In his article “Race in To Kill a Mockingbird” Chris Gonzalez refers to Calpurnia’s hospitality as “a great equalizer of
In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Scout narrates the novel by telling the story of how Jem broke his arm. Atticus Finch is the father of two kids, Jem and Scout, who always get into trouble and are the most mischievous and nosy kids around. Atticus is a lawyer who is in a case defending a black man named Tom Robinson, who is harmless and innocent, while the kids are always tormenting and bothering the innocent Boo Radley. Because they are innocent and harmless, but treated with suspicion, both Boo and Tom exemplify the symbol of the mockingbird in this novel. Tom Robinson is represented by a mockingbird in this story by always being innocent and never harming, but always being tormented.
When Reverend Moorehead gives his sermon about Jem and Scout’s misdeeds at the dinner party, Atticus responds by laughing. Just before the dinner, Scout was “baptized” by Jem during one of their games, leaving her wet and naked. On their way home from the lake, they run into Reverend Moorehead, his wife, and Atticus. Calmly, Atticus puts his coat over Scout and tells her, “Go to Calpurnia. Go in the backdoor”(68). Calpurnia quickly cleans Scout up and prepares dinner. At the table, Reverend preaches a sermon about the kids misdemeanor from the incident earlier. After the sermon ends, Atticus leaves the room and instantly Scout thought he was embarresed and upset by their actions, but when she asked, "Is Atticus real upset?", Calpurnia said,
Moreover, when Calpurnia says “Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracing' 'em,” she means that although Scout’s status is higher it doesn’t make her any better by misjudging an individual. Calpurnia wants to discipline and make Scout realize that being judgemental and disrespectful of people's financial circumstances, or their social status is not right. Throughout the novel Calpurnia simply restrains Scout out of love. On the whole, Calpurnia's strict upbringing develops Scout into a fine, disciplined
Calpurnia teaches Scout that everyone should be treated equal and it is at this point Scout starts to understand that everybody acts