Virtues Embodied by Calpurnia Vivienne Akins-Smith Block 4 In the book How To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Calpurnia exhibits the virtue of prudence and justice demonstrated by her in many ways throughout the book. Although she is not one of the main characters, she has a big impact on many people throughout the story. The book was published in 1960 but the story was set in the 1930s when the Great Depression took place. In the Book Atticus, Finch attempts to prove a black man named Tom Robbison innocent after he was wrongly accused of raping a white woman. The book teaches us the consequences of racism and prejudice. Calpurnia has been the Finch Family’s housekeeper since Scout and Jem were babies, she deeply cares about Atticus and his 2 kids. She is wise in making the …show more content…
She was in a fresh apron and carried it in her hand. Judge Taylor saw her and said, ‘It's Calpurnia, isn't it?’ ‘yes sir,’ she said. Could I just pass this note to Mr. Finch, please sir? it hasn't got anything to do with– the trial.’ Judge Taylor nodded and Atticus took the envelope from Calpurnia. he opened it ‘Judge, I-- this note is from my sister. She says my kids are missing, haven’t shown up at noon.I.could you–”, Calpurnia shows prudence by approaching Judge Taylor and Atticus Finch with her note, rather than interrupting the trial or causing unnecessary commotion. She waits for an appropriate moment to address her concern, ensuring that the proceedings are not disrupted while still wanting to help with the issue. This demonstrates her thoughtfulness and consideration of the situation. It shows how she was concerned for the children's safety and wanted to quickly and politely inform Atticus. Calpurnia also exhibits this virtue on page 136, which says, “Lula stopped, but she said, ‘You ain’t got no business bringin white chillun here–they got their church, we got
The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, takes place in the 1930s in a small Alabama county called Maycomb. The novel is about the Finch family of three. Atticus, the father, Scout the older brother and Scout the younger sister, who acts like a tomboy. Scout may be a lady, but does not like to act like one, she likes to play and get dirty with her brother. Being young, both children learn lessons throughout the novel by many different residents, such as, Calpurnia, the maid, Miss Maudie, the neighbor, and their father, Atticus. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird various citizens in the town of Maycomb play an important role in the lives of Jem and Scout Finch
Calpurnia is the Finch housekeeper. However, she is much more to the family. She acts as a mother figure to Jem and Scout as she practically raised them after their mother’s death when Scout was two years old. Along with Miss Maudie, Calpurnia is a strong, positive female influence in Jem and in Scout’s life. She is corresponding to Atticus in her lessons of politeness and compassion. For example, when Walter came home for dinner, and proceeded to pour maple syrup all over his meal, Scout made fun of him to the point of total embarrassment. Calpurnia told Scout, “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 don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?” “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s a Cunningham- ““Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunningham’s but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em – if you can’t act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!” Calpurnia sent me through the swinging door to the dining room with a stinging smack.” (Lee, page 26-29). Calpurnia’s moral lesson here is to respect
The story “To Kill a Mockingbird” is about Scout Finch and her family and how they are affected throughout the court case of Tom Robinson. In chapters 12-15 of the novel Atticus is preparing for the court case of Tom Robinson. Aunt Alexandra also decided that she is going to stay with them for a while so she could give Scout and Jem a “feminine influence”. Jem and Scout go to church with Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra doesn’t like it. Dill shows up after running away from home because he says his parents aren’t paying enough attention to him. Aunt Alexandra tries to push Atticus into getting rid of Calpurnia but Atticus refuses. A group shows up outside their house and talk with Atticus. Atticus goes to Tom Robinson's cell and the kids follow.
Atticus’ statement on prejudice and racism characterises his moral integrity and his empathetic nature. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch is depicted as the complete opposite of what people would perceive to be a stereotypical southern man living in the Deep South during the 1930s. Contrary to the majority of his fellow townspeople of Maycomb, Atticus is a man of great virtue and moral strength. He in not bigoted or racist and is egalitarian in his approach to all people This sort of moral integrity is what he tries to instil in his two young children, Jem and Scout, despite the bigotry and inequality surrounding them. Atticus Finch stands as a moral beacon of the town, a label which causes much friction between himself and other members of the Maycomb community. A clearer idea of Atticus’ principles can be gained by comparing and contrasting them to three other characters in the Novel, Calpurnia, Bob Ewell and Aunt Alexandra.
The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about a family of three including their black cook Calpurnia. They live in a town called Maycomb in Alabama. Atticus Finch the widowed father is a lawyer and is outgoing, kind, and true to himself. This book is a very popular book throughout many states in America because this book tells a meaningful message. Atticus teaches his two kids Jem and Scout to always do the right thing no matter what the situation is. Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch to teach values and beliefs from seeing things from another point of view, to do what is right all the time and to be integrative to yourself.
Even though Atticus is more intelligent and sophisticated than others in Maycomb, Atticus shows respect to even the poorest, most uneducated farmers by addressing them politely and with great courtesy. In his own home, Atticus regards Calpurnia, a Negro woman, as an equal member of the household and trusts her to parent Scout and Jem in his absence. Another example of Atticus’s respectfulness is when he strips down in the courtroom, and Scout describes: “...he unbuttoned his vest, unbuttoned his collar, loosened his tie, and took off his coat” (Lee 271). Atticus chooses to take off his formal attire in order to appeal to a jury of white farmers, and by doing so, he shows the jury that he believes everyone is equal in the eyes of God. Atticus’s ability to see the value in the individual makes him not only an effective lawyer, but also a respectful citizen and an influential moral
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
“Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell's shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of
Growing up in Maycomb, Southern Alabama in the 1930s was not an easy thing. Amid a town of prejudice and racism, stood a lone house where equality and respect for all gleamed like a shining star amid an empty space. The house of Atticus Finch was that shining star. Jean Louise Finch, also known as “Scout”, is given the opportunity of being raised in this house by her father, Atticus. I stole this essay from the net. As she grows, Atticus passes down his values of equality and righteousness to Scout and her brother Jeremy Atticus Finch, also known as “Jem”. In “To Kill a Mockingbird”, by Harper Lee, we see Scout learns many lessons about dealing with prejudice by observing the behavior of other characters in the story.
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
Lois McMaster Bujold once said, “Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself. Atticus Finch a heroic figure in the novel To Kill a MockingBird by Harper Lee is known as a white lawyer who defended a “black” man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a disturbing man, Bob Ewell. Atticus knows his reputation is at risk, when he decides to take a black man’s court case. He is appointed to this case because Mayella Ewell blamed an innocent black man, Tom Robinson of raping and beating her. She fails to admit the truth due to obeying her father. In the 1930’s racism was extremely crucial and no matter what the truth was a white person was most likely believed over an African American. Miss Maudie, The Finches neighbor tells the kids, “There are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them” (Lee 219). Atticus Finch is highly respected and someone everyone can look up too in Maycomb, Alabama. Throughout the novel, Atticus presents himself as calm, courageous, and an open-minded person.
On several occasions, Atticus has demonstrated his tolerance and love of others despite race or social status. The first example of this is when Atticus defends his housekeeper Calpurnia. “Alexandra, Calpurnia’s not leaving this house until she wants to.”(183). Calpurnia is black and therefore thought to be less than the white citizens of Maycomb, including Atticus’s sister, Alexandra. Any other white man in town would have let Calpurnia go, but not Atticus.
As previously mentioned, the point of view in this narrative is from Scout. Her upbringing has been respectful to the African-Americans in her society and she shows this with her relationship with her maid, Calpurnia. Other children her age have adopted their parents' racially prejudice views, causing her of many problems. Atticus's lawsuit seems to isolate his children and Scout is taunted with remarks in the playground. Her only retort is violence and Atticus, as an virtuous father, does not condone this behaviour either: "My fists were clenched I was ready to make fly. Cecil Jacobs had announced the day before that Scout Finch's daddy defended niggers."
By utilizing character foil between Aunt Alexandra and Atticus, Lee was able to illustrate a contrast within the white society. In order to show how a typical white person would behave during that time, Lee introduces Aunt Alexandra to portray how most white people would act in Maycomb. “You all were coming back from Calpurnia’s church that Sunday? (Lee, 1960, p. 222)” This quote exemplifies how Aunt Alexandra is always discriminated against black people. She was shocked to hear about Jem and Scout going to black church with Calpurnia. While Calpurnia is portrayed as a well-mannered person who acts like a mother to Scout and Jem in this novel, Aunt Alexandra looks down on Calpurnia, because she was born with different skin color. In response to Calpurnia’s action, she told Atticus, “...you’ve got to do something about her... (Lee, 1960, p.224)” to discrete herself and to prevent Calpurnia from being in the same social class as her. While Aunt Alexandra symbolizes as a racial prejudice in this novel, Atticus is one of the characters that represents both a...
The novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an extremely polarizing book. Some people think that no one should have to read it. Conversely, some people think that it is a great book for every high schooler to read. Some people don’t like the book for its limited audience, which does affect me slightly since I do not like to party, compared to all the characters in the book constantly partying. Nevertheless, people also like the book because of Fitzgerald’s symbolism and unique but direct writing style.