Tough Love Calpurnia (Cal) in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird has an enormous impact on the characters in the novel. She is a cook, is a housekeeper, is disciplinary and mother figure, is accepting to others, is admirable, and is stubborn. Cal has been with the Finch family since before Jeremy Atticus (Jem) Finch was born. She has taken the place of Jean Louise (Scout) and Jem Finchs’ mother. The children would not be who they are today without Cal. Atticus, Scout and Jem’s father, says about Calpurnia, “…I couldn’t have got along without her over these years. She’s a faithful member of this family…”. When Scout and Jem visit First Purchase Church, Scout learns a lot about Calpurnia. At the Finch house, Cal uses proper English, but at …show more content…
“She was always in 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. Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side.” The fact that Calpurnia always won, displays that she is stubborn. On the other hand, I am not stubborn, and I can let other people win. Awhile back, my sister and brother stayed at my grandparents, and my sister and I had a disagreement on the sleeping accommodations. We both wanted the more comfortable bed. After a long debate, even though I wanted that bed, I let her have it. The most important job Calpurnia does for the Finchs’ is teaching Jem and Scout to treat people with respect no matter who they are or what they have done. Calpurnia displays discipline to the children in a loving way. The relationship Calpurnia and Scout have in the beginning of the novel, grows stronger overtime. She is a very important member of the family. “…I couldn’t have got along without her over these years. She’s a faithful member of this family…”. Even though Scout and Jem’s mother passed away, Calpurnia has had a great effect on the
Similar to Atticus, Calpurnia takes a stand against racism and believes everyone is equal. Due to Atticus’ and Calpurnia’s morals toward racism, Jem and Scout are heavily influenced by their views, and will most likely take after them. Calpurnia seeks every opportunity possible to educate Jem and Scout that racism is unacceptable. For example, Calpurnia takes the children with her to her black church called First Purchase, and because of this, the children are able to better understand the vast separation of race. Scout learns that not only are white people prejudice, but black people are also prejudice. Most of the negroes at First Purchase were very welcoming as the three entered except for Lula who made them feel unwelcome. "You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here—they got their church, we got our'n” (136). Clearly, Lula is prejudice towards white people, similar to how white people are prejudice towards black people. In addition to these prejudice ways, Scout realizes how differently Calpurnia acts around her folks. Calpurnia stated that talking white folks in her church would be “out of place”, and how “folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do” (143). As a result, Calpurnia talks colored-folks’ at her church so she fits in with everyone else, rather than speaking more advanced, which ultimately shows
It can be seen, that the language used in To Kill a Mockingbird novel is simple though it deals with critical issues in the society such as racial inequality and rape. Harper Lee bases the story in small town known as Maycomb during Great Depression period. The novel focuses on Jean Finch also known as Scout who lives under the care of her brother Jem and their father Atticus. The children befriends Dill who normally visits his aunt every summer. Scout, Jem and Dill are fascinated and terrified by their neighbor Boo who residents of Maycomb
Characters in a book not only tell the story, but teach the reader a lesson. To Kill a Mockingbird is a book that exhibits racism and gives the readers a taste of what it was like in the 1930’s. One of the several major characters of this book is Jean Louise Finch, better known as Scout. She matured greatly because of women characters such as Miss Maudie, Calpurnia, and her Aunt Alexandra. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout teaches all readers the lesson of how it is important to have a motherly figure in your life; she does so through possessing the traits of being curious, tomboy, and hot tempered.
One Sunday, while their father is away, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. The reverend says, “‘The collection taken up today and for the next three Sundays will go to Helen-his wife, to help her out at home’” (160). This reveals that the entire black community is involved in the Tom Robinson case, and they are all working together to help him and his family. During the trail, Scout, Jem, and Dill sit in the balcony with the reverend they met at church. After Tom is declared guilty, Scout says, “I looked around. They were standing. All around us and in the balcony on the opposite wall, the Negroes were getting to their feet” (283). The fact that they all stand shows their respect for Tom and Atticus, and is another example of the black community uniting. In the twenty fourth chapter, Atticus comes home with the news that Tom was shot and killed. He says “‘Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen.’”(315). Calpurnia does go with him, to aid him. This is another example of blacks helping blacks.. The unity of the black community throughout the novel was only seen through Calpurnia.
Keeping a mouth shut doesn't hold the world shut out, it opens up new doors to things that would never be expected. In To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee, there is are two character that is are an eternal mystery for the readers. Boo Radley, though the reader nor Scout and Jem know anything about the character all they want is to learn about him. Boo becomes a mysterious figure that many see as creepy, ghostly, but also reasonably wise. The one-time Boo appears the readers learn he is a sagacious, powerful man. Little do Scout and Jem know is that their father is also a rational being as well. The two crucial character in the story helps support the
First, Aibileen and Calpurnia are very alike in many ways but they have their differences. In the book Calpurnia tells scout s the Finch’s maid. She spends most of her day at the house taking care of Jem and Scout, leaving only at night. Cal teaches the kids many lessons, especially Scout. An example of this is when she tells scout “Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house, they are company and don't let me catch you remarking on their ways like you were so high and mighty”(Lee ) This quote from the book shows how Calpurnia raised the kids and that she was a mother figure to them. This begins to show a way Calpurnia will relate to Aibileen from The Help. In the movie Aibileen was also a maid for a white family. In the movie
Jem has grown up and has become more mature and Scout does not realize why he does not want to be around her anymore. Calpurnia tells Scout, “He’s gonna want to be off to himself a lot doin’ whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome” (154). Cal was trying to explain why Jem wanted Scout to leave him alone even if Scout does not want to. Calpurnia gave Scout an alternative to come into the kitchen if she ever felt lonely. Calpurnia taught Scout and Jem many things, but one of the main lesson was that all people are
Jem and Scout are going to Calpurnia’s First Purchase church for the first time. Jem and Scout are the children of Atticus, a prominent white lawyer in Maycomb, and Calpurnia is their African American cook and nanny. Scout, the narrator, is describing her less-than-flattering view
When Aunt Alexandra first arrived at the Finch house, she took over as if she had been living there her whole life. When arriving home, Jem and Scout found her, “sitting in a rocking chair exactly as if she had sat there every day of her life.”(p. 168). From the very beginning, Aunt Alexandra felt she should be completely in charge. The first thing she said was, “‘Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia,’” (p. 169). Aunt Alexandra treated Calpurnia as if Calpurnia was her servant. Aunt Alexandra was a strong influence within the Finches home, from the beginning. It did not do much of anything in the end, yet Jem and Scout saw a different side of their father, Atticus. “Atticus suddenly grew serious. In his lawyer’s voice, without a shade of affection, he said: ‘Your aunt has asked me to try and impress upon [Jem] and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are the product of several generations’ gentle breeding−’”(p. 177). This may have been one of the first times that the children...
The author George Elliot once said “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Appearance can be very misleading, and you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. This philosophical idea has been included in many works of literature, including the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. The novel takes place in the town of Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930s. Many citizens of Maycomb tend to make judgements based on outward appearances alone. In the novel, Lee uses minor characters such as Boo Radley, Mrs. Dubose, and Tom Robinson to convey the book’s theme of prejudice.
Jean Louise Finch, known to Maycomb as Scout, is affected by racial discrimination in many ways throughout To Kill a Mockingbird. Although most discrimination appears as white people against African American people, there is one case where the discrimination appears as African American people against white people. On a Sunday when Jem and Scout’s father, Atticus, is not home, Calpurnia, their cook, takes the two children to her church. Once there they were confronted by a woman named Lula. She is racist against white people, and shows it by saying, “‘I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to n***er church’” (Lee 158). By writing this event into the story, Harper Lee shows how racial discrimination can affect anyone of any race. “The society that imprisons Tom Robinson is the same one that imprisons Scout…” (Durst Johnson 301). Although their reasons for being confined are different, the same society caused it.
Scout does not heed Atticus’ advice in Chapter 4 of To Kill a Mockingbird, as she continues to express her biased hatred for Calpurnia, and also openly contradicts Jem, without considering the perspectives to which they are taking. As stated by Harper Lee, “...Calpurnia’s tyranny, unfairness, and meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumbling of general disapproval (45)”. This quote expresses the many ways Scout thinks of Calpurnia, a great many of which as terrible and controlling. This biased description of Calpurnia shows how Scout is still unable to understand why Calpurnia consistently disciplines her, and from what standpoint she is doing so. Also stated by Lee, “Jem stamped his foot. “Don’t you know you’re not suppose to even
Little by little Jem, Scout, and Dill get exposed to the real world; changing their perspective and their attitude towards people and subjects. This event focuses on Scout and Jem, Atticus is away and Calpurnia decides to take them to her church. While they are at the church Jem and Scout notice, Calpurnia talks a different way to negros than to whites. “‘Cal,’ I asked, “why do you talk niggertalk to the—to your folks when you know it’s not right?” ‘Well, in the first place I’m black—’ ‘That doesn’t mean you hafta talk that way when you know better,’ said Jem. Calpurnia tilted her hat and scratched her head, then pressed her hat down carefully over her ears. ‘It’s right hard to say,’ she said. ‘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.’ ‘But Cal, you know better,’ I said. ‘It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike—in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin‘ more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin‘ right, they’ve got to want to learn themselves, and when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.’” (167) Calpurnia
One subtle example of discrimination the reader sees is the treatment of Calpurnia, a black woman, the housekeeper/nanny for the Finch family. Although she is treated fairly, it is obvious that she is considered to be on a lower social level than the Finches. She calls Scout ma'am and Jem sir, although these are titles usually reserved for elders.
These two clash throughout the film because of Calpurnia’s expectations of being a “lady” and how Scout takes “being a girl” as an insult. In one brief scene that is not included in the film, Jem, the brother, is angry about the court conviction and asks Atticus why “there are no good people like us and Miss Maudie”, the Finches’ neighbor that is on the jury instead.