Essay On Cal's Relationship In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the 1930’s racism was at an all time high. The lynching of blacks was seen as a normal occurrence by society. It was strict taboo to have a tolerant relationship between the two races. Although in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, that taboo was broken by a black woman Calpurnia and a white woman Aunt Alexandra. Cal is a hard working woman who earns every penny she makes. Aunt Alexandria on the other hand is a privileged white woman who feels entitled to the world. They are like night and day, but are tolerant of each other for one reason, family. They both share a special relationship with the two kids, Jem and Scout. They both want the best for the children and their futures. This bright future they want for the kids cannot happen with their aunt and role-model always being belligerent toward each other. The fact that Cal and Aunt Alexandra have different skin color and still are tolerant with each other showing that family overtakes racism at all levels.
Black women in this time period are still looked down upon. Cal is treated like a lower class member of
Aunt Alexandria is harsh with the kids so they might be able to better themselves. Scout is a tomboy. She wears suspenders and gets into fights at school to try and certify herself as more of a boy´s presence. Aunt Alexandria can not stand this believing all little girls should act like young women from the moment they are born. She is horrified by the fact that Scout wears suspenders and believes she should only wear dresses like a lady. On the way back to the house from Cal’s church, Aunt Alexandria is unexpectedly on the front porch of the Finch house. When she sees them approaching the first thing she demands is, “ Jean Louise, stop scratching your head!” (127) She is a nitpick about anything and everything so the kids will be ready for future obstacles of any