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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…
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A theme of this story is that people are not who they seem they are. Calpurnia has two sides to her in this story. One is the way Calpurnia acts at the Finch’s. Calpurnia talks like a normal citizen of Maycomb. Calpurnia also dresses like a normal citizen of Maycomb. But on Sunday’s she suddenly flips a switch. The way Calpurnia acts on the other side of town across the city borders where she goes to church on Sunday’s. Calpurnia talks a lot different than anyone in Maycomb, the colored people at church say things like “I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to nigger church”. Calpurnia and the kids that day dressed up a lot different than the way they dress at home or the way they dress when they go to the store. The morning of Sunday when Scout and Jem woke up Calpurnia had them put on these outrageous clean cuts and perfect clothes. Scout said that when she woke up and say all the starch on her…
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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.…
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Calpurnia is the Finch’s housekeeper who is trusted by Atticus and his family. Atticus says I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family, and another thing, the children love her. She acts as a mother figure for Jem and Scout and disciplines them like her own children. Atticus says she imposes stricter discipline…
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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…
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In To Kill a Mockingbird, Calpurnia teaches the children respect, manners, and awareness to the society around them. In the beginning of the book, Jem and Scout are young, immature, and innocent. The children’s innocence and immaturity begin to fade away as Cal teaches them awareness of their actions. For example, Calpurnia urges Scout to silence her disrespectful comments towards Walter Cunningham during dinner. Furthermore, Calpurnia tells Scout to apologize for her immaturity as Scout to begin to learn mannerism. The following examples signify Calpurnia affect and importance in the children’s lives. Calpurnia's is concern about the children, so they grow into mature and respectable adult such as their father, Atticus Finch. When Jem matures,…
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“’It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not lady-like 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’” –Calpurnia was speaking to Scout (Pg. )…
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Thanks to Atticus’ wisdom and raising, Scout comes a long way from her immature self at the beginning of the novel in realizing that humanity has great evil, but also has great good. Scout is introduced early on to evil in the form of racial prejudice and these experiences are carried with her to young adulthood. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is young, innocent, and sometimes disrespectful. In the early chapters, Scout makes some rude remarks towards Calpurnia, the maid. Scout suggests that Atticus have her fired after she gets in trouble. When she comes the conclusion that “(Calpurnia) likes Jem better’n me anyway.” and “suggested that Atticus lose no time in packing her off” (25), it shows how inconsiderate Scout is being towards Calpurnia. Also early in the novel Scout, Jem and Dill are afraid of Boo Radley, they think he is a monster and try to play tricks on him. They don’t know Boo Radley and have never seen him, yet still judge him on stories they have only heard. They feel threatened by him, and are scared to go on his property. This childlike behavior is a perfect example of how much room Scout has to grow. Scout also had the immature habit of getting into fistfights that started by the slightest provocation. When Jem had told Scout to stop beating up Walter Cunningham, he asked why she was fighting him in the first place. All Scout could say in response was “He didn’t have any…
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They happen to be that many people are racists to African Americans; she finally learns what the phrase "to kill a mockingbird" means, and the reason why Boo Radley stays in his house. Scout notices some racism in her county when Jem and Scout go to visit their maid's, Calpurnia, church. Right when they walked in, a lady started saying" You ain't got no business bringin' white chillun here- they got their church, we got our'n. It is our church, ain't it, Miss Cal? (119)." The lady's name was Lula and was mad at Calpurnia for bringing white children to an African- American church. In addition, Scout also finds out what Atticus meant when he said that she shouldn't kill mockingbirds for it would be similar to murdering something or someone who's innocent. Towards the end, Scout says to Atticus, "Well it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it? (276)" telling Atticus that if the truth was told, then an innocent man would be condemned. Noticing all these thoughts and events, Scout must also face the idea she is to become a…
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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…
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In the midst of one mild night, i was still, on the rocker seat out on the front porch. There was a a bit of dusky reflection from the upstairs windows. I could hear the crickets and their very soothing sounds to my ears, leaving me to reflect in utter peace. Sometimes, i go here every evening to have a moment to myself, taking pleasure in the serenity and hushed noises down the street. Nostalgia comes across my thoughts as I wonder of what it would have been like with Scout and Jem’s mother around. If only the children and I, especially Scout so that she could get a clear picture of her could see her one last time. As I paint her in my head, I remember how she was and am grateful. Her sweetness, beauty and devotion to justice as well as to the family were always visible, ever since i saw her for the first time, when i was first elected to the state legislature. It’s a pity you can’t find many good-hearted citizens like that these days in our small world.…
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They learn why this is necessary for her to have, “It’s not necessary to tell you all know. It’s not lady-like —in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do” (Lee 166). What Calpurnia means with this quote is that no one cares for a bragger or someone that boasts. Boasting is also extremely impolite and not lady-like. Calpurnia gives lessons to Scout and influences her on how to be a lady for the rest of her life. Calpurnia gives Scout an example on how to act while Bob Ewell gives her the exact opposite.…
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In To Kill a Mocking Bird there are two characters that are parental figures to Jem and Scout, these parental figures are there Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia. When Calpurnia is mentioned in the book she is a clear mother like character. Calpurnia is someone Scout naturally looks up to her for examples of how she is obligated to grow up. Scout even comes out and says how Calpurnia has curtain skills she is interested in and learning from Calpurnia. Calpurnia is a character that is present in times that Jem and Scout need her. In the book Scouts home has started to burn down and Calpurnia is automatically there to comfort the Scout and her Brother “Calpurnia’s hands went to our shoulders” (Lee 158). Scout also states how her go to person for…
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Most people never realise that their most hated enemy could easily be their closest friend. In part 1 of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird the narrator, scout, recounts the events of her childhood. Whether it be a house fire, a mysterious neighbor, or an obstinate old woman, scouts adolescent years can be called anything but drab. That does not ,in anyway, exclude the people in her life and how they affect her. Atticus Finch and Calpurnia both have a massive impact on scout's life, perspective, and personality.…
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Family are the closest people to in life, they are the ones that stick with you through everything even if what you did was wrong. In this book it shows how family has your back through everything. Even though Boo Radley was not blood related to Jem and Scout. He looked out for them and made sure that they were okay at all times throughout the novel. Such as the time when they were on their way back from the Halloween pageant and Bob Ewell tried attacking them. But he did not succeed because Boo Radley had an eye out for Jem and Scout. Boo did not even know them personally yet, but that was his family and he was ready to give up his life and privacy for his family. Another person that shows great importance in family values is Calpurnia. She is a colored women working for a white family trying to support herself, like most colored women during that era.” 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 dont. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the tablecloth you let him, you hear?” (32). Hear she is telling scout almost in a motherly tone about how rude she was being to Walter Cunningham. Because she cares for Scout and she wants her to be educated and well rounded with her…
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