Calpurnia enters into the story very early on in To Kill a Mockingbird, and is an integral part in the story. She works for the Finch family as their cook and mother figure.…
Calpurnia’s most kindly asset, though, is her ability to understand other people. Sometimes, from Scout’s point of view, the family cook seemed to have a sixth sense. “Perhaps Calpurnia sensed that my day had been a grim one: she let me watch her fix supper”(38). Knowing that Scout’s day had been rough, Calpurnia, with her mother-like tenderness, tried to console her the best way she knew how. Calpurnia also understood the children’s problems with each other. When Scout and Jem started to not get along as well, Calpurnia understood and was kinder to both of…
Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra’s beliefs are a major cause of conflict throughout To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This conflict is not only between Calpurnia, Atticus Finch's’ housekeeper, and Alexandra, Atticus Finch’s sister and the aunt of his children. Furthermore, their moral differences create conflict between themselves and other characters involved in the plot. However, these two important characters aren’t only different. Calpurnia and Alexandra have many similarities, as well. Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra have similarities and differences in their moral beliefs, their role in the Finch house, and their character traits.…
The most important lesson that the children, particularly Scout, learn is to never judge a person before you know them, something that can definitely be applied to our own lives as well. This is enunciated through the example of Walter Cunningham, who dines at the Finch’s house, following an invitation from Jem after discovering Walter did not have lunch. After witnessing Walter drench his lunch in molasses, Scout expresses her disapproval. As Scout is reprimanded in the kitchen, Calpurnia states that "Company gets treated politely no matter who they are". This is a fundamental teaching for Scout, as she realises that indeed all people deserve equality and justice. This is further emphasised through the fact that Calpurnia is an African American…
Calpurnia shows the significance of perspective to both Scout and Jem through her actions with both a young child and an adult. One afternoon, Walter Cunningham comes over for dinner and Scout makes fun of him for pouring syrup on his food. Calpurnia takes Scout aside and scolds her for being rude. Calpurnia says, “There’s some folks who don’t eat like us, but you are ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don’t” (Lee 24). Calpurnia tells Scout not to make fun of people who behave differently. Calpurnia knows that Scout has a higher standard…
the dog, she realizes that the dog is in fact mad, and notifies Mr. Finch of the…
The last person that is like a part of the family, is Calpurnia. She is African American and even though the society considers her as a servant for the household, the Finches never treat her like one. I think that Calpurnia is like Scout and Jem’s mother, she acts to be strict but I can see how much she loves them. Once she even offered us lemonade, which was delicious and I appreciated her for it. In my opinion, Calpurnia is a loyal and loving person.…
Calpurnia - Calpurnia is the Finches housekeeper however, she is much more to the family and acts as a mother figure to Jem and Scout, as she raised them after their mother’s death. Calpurnia is a strong influence in Jem and Scout’s lives. Calpurnia is the first black women the children have ever interacted with and she serves between the black and white worlds of Maycomb.…
For starters, Calpurnia helps scout become more lady like at the end of the novel by teaching her proper manners and edict. Scout learned cooking and cleaning skills from Calpurnia while Jem was busy growing up and distancing himself from her. “Just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome, we’ll find lots for you to do in here.” (Lee 154). Another example of Calpurnia teaching Scout proper manners was when she corrects Scout for thinking that she is better than Walter Cunningham. “Yo’ folks might be better than the Cunningham’s, but it don’t count for nothing the way your disgracing them.” (Lee 33). When Calpurnia scolds Scout for thinking she is better than Walter, she is telling her how she was being extremely rude. Calpurnia tells her that it is not acceptable to treat company rudely. Calpurnia helps scout develop into the person she is at the end of the novel by teaching her appropriate lady like actions.…
There are many people in To Kill a Mockingbird that have significant influences of Scout and Jem's actions. The two that stood out boldly to me, however, were Atticus and Calpurnia. Atticus, being the children's father, tought his kids many moral lessons. Calpurnia acted as a mother to Jem and Scout. Throughout every chapter these two characters…
Calpurnia, or Cal, is a very important motherly figure in Scout’s early upbringing. She is the cook, she helps around the house, and she cares for the whole family. Atticus respects her, and refuses to fire her, although Aunt…
First, Cal acts as a mother figure for Scout. For example, after Cal gets after Scout for how she treats Walter Cunningham early in the novel, Scout is angry at her. However, when she returns from school Cal is nice to her and cooks her some crackling bread. In this way she is mothering Scout and disciplining her at the same time.…
Calpurnia is the Finches house keeper, mother figure and disciplinarian in the house hold Calpurnia is another character that was being treated cruelly, when Alexandra first arrived at the Finches house, Calpurnia was not greeted properly, she was greeted with an order “Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia.” (Lee 169) Alexandra thought Calpurnia was not worth greeting as a human and treated her as a servant. Alexandra was not a fond of Calpurnia and wanted her to be sent away, “Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are” (Lee 138). The reason Alexandra wanted Calpurnia sent away is because she did not want Jem and Scout raised by a black woman but a white…
Jem and Scout’s visit to Calpurnia’s church teaches them a lot about varying ways of life. It shows them that Calpurnia truly lives a life outside of caring for…
Miss Maudie is a laid-back woman who has been around for quite a while. She understands what it can be like as a young girl growing up and learning about the world around her. This helps Scout immensely as it gives her someone to turn to. It also helps her learn things from more reliable sources than her friends. For example, when she asks about Boo Radley, Miss Maudie responds, “His name’s Arthur and he’s alive” (Lee 57), with the reasoning that, “he’s alive… because I haven’t seen him carried out yet” (Lee 57). Calpurnia is also a mother figure that Scout has in her life to go to when times get rough. Though there is no blood relation between Scout and Cal, they are very close and grow even more so as the novel progresses. She gives Scout refuge in the kitchen when the boys won’t let her join their games. Kenneth Rubin states, “Friendship promotes the development of perspective taking and moral reasoning skills” (Rubin). At this point in Scout’s life, having good role models like Cal and Miss Maudie is a great benefit to her learning and developing ideas. They are both wise women and teach Scout things in their own ways; though she may not know it now, it impacts the rest of her…