In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Calpurnia is the family cook and house worker to the Finch family, Atticus, Jem and Scout. Calpurnia has worked for the family for nearly her whole life. To the Finch’s, Calpurnia is more than just a helping hand; she is seen as a motherly figure for Scout and Jem. Calpurnia expresses kindness toward the children and is always there to help Jem and Scout. Thus, Jem and Scout rely on Calpurnia and her kindness to help them whenever they face a situation or just need someone to be there for them. Calpurnia is an asset to the Finch family because of her main virtue of kindness. Caprinia’s characteristic of always being kind is a very helpful to Scout when she is going through hard times with …show more content…
'Mister Jem?'
'Yeah, he's just about Mister Jem now.’
‘He ain't that old,' I said. 'All he needs is somebody to beat him up, and I ain't big enough.'
'Baby,' said Calpurnia, 'I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We'll find lots of things to do in here’” (153-154).
Calpurnia is trying to make Scout feel better about her situation and be there as a shoulder to cry on. She comforts Scout by explaining that “Mister Jem's growin' up” and that he is going to want to “be off to himself a lot now”. Calpurnia shows kindness to Scout by inviting Scout to come into the kitchen whenever Scout “ feels lonesome”. Moreover, Calpurnia states that they will “ find lots of things to do” in the kitchen as a way of comforting Scout. This shows how Calpurnia is caring and compassionate toward Scout by extending her kindness through comforting and cheering up Scout. Because of the kindness Calpurnia exhibits to Scout, this makes her an asset to
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When Jem and Scout invited Walter Cunningham, a boy from school, over to dinner one day, Scout made a comment about the way he eats and embarrasses him. Calpurnia then lectures Scout about the importance of always being kind and accepting. Later in the novel, Jem and Scout sneak out of their house and into town to spy on their father, Atticus. When they arrived, they found a group of men talking aggressively to Atticus because they wanted to retrieve Tom Robinson, a man accused of rape, so they could injure him. One of the men is Mr. Cunningham, who happens to be the father of Walter Cunningham, whom the Finches recently had over for dinner. Scout realizes her kindness towards Mr. Cunningham's son may compel him show mercy and leave her father and Tom Robinson alone. Scout says to Mr. Cunningham, "'He's in my grade,' I said, 'and he does right well. He's a good boy,' I added, 'a real nice boy. We brought him home for dinner one time. Maybe he told you about me, I beat him up one time but he was real nice about it. Tell him hey for me, won't you’” (205). When Calpurnia displays kindness toward Scout, she also lectures Scout on how important it is to always be kind and accepting. Consequently, Scout realizes how important that is and applies it to a situation where she has to get her family
Scout tried to explain this to her teacher, Miss Caroline, but got in trouble. Scout was so angry she rubbed Walter’s nose in dirt. Jem invited Walter over for dinner and Scout made a remark that made Calpurnia furious. She told Scout, “That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat the table cloth you let him, you hear?” (32). Scout went on to say how just because he is a Cunningham he was not company. Calpurnia became even more furious and raised her voice and said, “Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em” (33). This lesson was important because Scout learned just because you might be better than someone or have more does not mean you should act like it. Calpurnia gives the talks and is there for both children just like a real mother would be. Miss Maudie is another Maycomb citizen who is an important role model for Jem and
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
Scout reveals her misjudgement on Ms. Caroline in the beginning of the story. Ms. Caroline notices Walter Cunningham with no lunch and offers to buy him lunch but he refuses the offer because Cunninghams don't take anything they can't pay back. Scout informs Ms. Caroline about the situation and she gets upset with Scout and spanks her leaving Scout with a bad impression. Scout informs her dad about the situation and Atticus tells her,¨ “First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-”...
Outside the jailhouse before the trial began, Scout learned that as a child she could make angry men stand in Atticus’ shoes for a minute. There was a crowd who was made with Atticus, and they wanted to hang Tom Robinson. She talked to Walter Cunningham directly about his own family, which reminded him of what a decent person he really was. He then led the group away. (“Last night you made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough.”—Atticus (Lee, pg. 157)). Mr. Cunnigham was only in that group of people because he (and most of the other men) were afraid something bad would happen to them if they turned on Atticus’ side.
Why?’ ‘He didn’t have any lunch,’ I said, and explained my involvement in Walter’s dietary affairs” (27). Scout is also very mischievous and has a devious mentality towards Calpurnia. She describes Calpurnia as a tyrannical presence, and she does everything she can to get her out of the house. One time Scout does this is when Walter comes over to her house to eat dinner.
In addition to being a lawyer, Atticus enjoys being a father to Jem and Scout. When Jem and Scout found out that their father would be defending a black person, they knew immediately that there would be much controversy, humiliation from the people of Maycomb and great difficulty keeping Tom alive for the trial. It was not long when Atticus had to leave the house very late to go to jail, where Tom was kept because many white people wanted to kill him. Worrying about their father, Jem and Scout sneak out of the house to find him. A self-appointed lynch mob has gathered on the jail to take justice into their own hands. Scout decides to talk to Walter Cunningham, one of the members of the mob. She talks about how her father Atticus thought that "entailments are bad "(154 ) " and that his boy Walter is a real nice boy and tell him I said hey"(154). Upon hearing this, the mob realized that Atticus cannot be all bad if he has such a nice daughter as Scout. Atticus, with some unexpected help from his children, faces down the mob and cause them to break up the potential lynching of the man behind bars. Having gone to a black church earlier, the children found out that Tom is actually a kind person, church-going and a good husband and father to his children.
However, Scout acknowledges her mistakes and uses them as learning experiences that helps her grow and mature. An example that shows this very well in the novel, “I remember the distant disastrous occasion when I rushed to young Walter Cunningham's defense. Now, I was glad I done it. “Soon’s school starts I’m gonna ask Walter Cunningham to dinner,” I planned have forgotten my private resolve to beat him up.” (Lee, Ch.23). This significant taught her a big lesson. That you shouldn’t judge others based on their differences. In the beginning of the book, Scout picks on Walter Cunningham, a classmate, for getting her in trouble with Miss. Caroline. She doesn’t stop to think about her words or Cunningham’s perspective of the situation. In short, she was being insensitive. Walter is from a poor family of farmers their eating habits aren’t like Scout’s. So naturally, Scout, being a child, picks on him for that. Now, later in the novel, Scout understands her mistake and tries invite him for dinner again as a way of apologizing. This quote shows that her innocence views is the bridge that lead her realize her
He shows this quality largely through the treatment of his sister Scout. Although they get into the occasional quarrels and scuffle, Jem cares greatly for her. He often encourages her in her moments of sadness and even defends her from tormentors such as Mrs. Dubose. Jem's attitude of caring and sympathy also reached out beyond his sister and to others. Jem clearly demonstrates this in his treatment towards Walter Cunningham, "Jem suddenly grinned at him. 'Come on home to dinner with us, Walter,' he said. 'We'd be glad to have you'' This displays great concern and caring on Jem's end towards Walter as he understood Walter did not have anything to
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
He treats all people of Maycomb fairly including his African-American maid, Calpurnia. In fact, he treats her like family. When his sister complained about living with Calpurnia, Atticus stood up for her saying “She’s a faithful member of this family and you'll have to accept the way thing are”. African American maids were not treated kindly but, Atticus saw through her race and thought of her as family. He even stood up for her against his own sister, teaching his kids to treat everyone fairly despite the color of their skin. Scout then takes her father’s lessons into account when talking to Mr.Cunningham. In the midst of the lynching mob, Scout greets Mr. Cunningham. She says “Hey Mr.Cunningham! How's your entailment?”. She remembers that “Atticus said it was polite to talk to people about what they were interested in” and applied the lesson when talking to Mr.Cunningham. Atticus also stays calm in the face of disrespect. Throughout the book, Atticus receives disrespectful comments about him and his family because of the case and tells Scout to keep her head up and not let them bother her. Staying true to his word, he stays calm when Mr.Ewell cussed at him and intentionally spat on his face. After Mr.Ewell spat, “Atticus didn’t bat an eye, just took out a handkerchief and wiped his face… And let Mr.Ewell call him names”. Atticus does not lose his temper and handled the situation
When Atticus takes Calpurnia to Tom Robinson's home, she has to sit in the back seat so as not to appear as Atticus's equal. She does not eat at the same table with the Finch family although she has been a part of it since Jem was two. She is clearly loved by the family but by no means is she their equal.
Throughout all those years as the kids were growing up, Calpurnia has shown and given an immense amount of love and support towards the children, just as a mother or a motherly figure should. Atticus sees her as a faithful member of the family, and he refused of letting her go when Aunt Alexandra suggested firing her. In addition, Atticus trusts Calpurnia with the children; he trusts that she will look after them and cook them food when he is not able to. Calpurnia and Scout have grown closer as Scout grew up because often times Jem would exclude her. For instance, when Jem became close to his teenage years, he would act out often and tell Scout what to do. Scout burst into tears after one argument where Jem told her that she ought to start acting more like a girl. As a result, she fled to Calpurnia, where she offered to keep Scout company whenever she needed: “...so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome” (131). Also, Scout stated how Calpurnia seemed glad when she appeared in the kitchen. This shows how Calpurnia is always loving and supportive when Scout needs a shoulder to cry on, and how Calpurnia cheers Scout up when she’s not having the best of days. Besides from making Scout and Jem meals everyday, Calpurnia demonstrates exceptional mothering towards Scout on a daily
Even though Calpurnia is technically a servant, nobody in the Finch household ever treated her like a servant Calpurnia. Throughout the book Harper Lee shows that Calpurnia does all of the cleaning, cooking, and gardening around the house, so Calpurnia does not deserve such sass from Alex. The way Aunt Alexandria treats Calpurnia adds to the list of injustices in To Kill a Mockingbird.
In her first school year, Scout has no respect for anyone different from her. An example of this is her treatment of Walter Cunningham, which is heedless at best and merciless at worst: after an explanation of Walter’s habits lands her in trouble with Miss Caroline, she finds him in the schoolyard later and attacks him. After Jem invites Walter to dinner, Scout shows scorn for Walter’s revived dignity, commenting, “By the time we reached our front steps Walter had forgotten he was a Cunningham.” (Lee, 23) She shows marked disapproval for the way he eats, and she decides to eat in the kitchen rather than join Walter and the others at the dinner table. However, as Scout gains experience and maturity, she begins to put aside her differences from others. She becomes friends with Walter, and she asks Aunt Alexandra if she can play with him. Aunt Alexandra appalls Scout with the same prejudice towards the Cunninghams that Scout held two years before: “Jean Louise will not invite Walter Cunningham to this house…Because--he--is--trash, that’s why you can’t play with him. I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits an...
The main section of Scout’s heroic acts is when she walks Arthur Radley home. This is a major part in the novel because prior to this Maycomb thought Arthur was a freak and a Murderer. For Scout to have the courage to befriend Radley is a massive step in the right direction. In this scene Scout risked a couple of things which proves her heroism. She risked her reputation which is the big one. Because she walked ‘Boo’ home, there was no doubt that she was being judged by the people of Maycomb. Throughout the novel we see Scout’s character change from a feisty, aggressive and judgy girl to a kind, open minded, less aggressive girl. There are numerous people and some experiences that took part in Scout’s change. But there is one lady that did Scout a whole lot of good, her name is Calpurnia. Calpurnia is a coloured woman and she is the Finch’s housekeeper. Throughout the novel there are different examples where Calpurnia has picked up on Scout’s behaviour at school or just in the town. This i first brought to the reader's attention when Calpurnia lectures Scout on the way she treats Mr. Cunningham jr. Scout would pick on his eating habits and she even got in a fight with him at school. Swiftly afterwards Calpurnia pulls Scout into the kitchen and gives her a stern talking to. During the narrative through