To Kill A Mockingbird Calpurnia Character Analysis

Harper Lee’s timeless classic To Kill A Mockingbird follows protagonist Scout Finch as she recollects several years of her childhood in the south during the 1930s. Set in the racially charged depression era town of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout tells of the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, in which Scout’s father Atticus is the defence attorney. As the story opens, Scout mirrors the racist views of her community. However as time progresses, Scout is exposed to a plethora of characters from whom she gains wisdom. By the end of the story, Scouts views have evolved, and she has gained a widen view of the world and the injustices within it. One of the most prominent teachers in Scout’s life is Calpurnia, a black woman

who works for the Finch’s and is essentially Scout’s surrogate mother. From Calpurnia, Scout gains many lessons on acceptance through her interactions with Walter Cunningham and the congregation of the First Purchase Church. One of the most iconic lessons learned by Scout came from a different teacher; her next door neighbor Miss Maudie Attkins. Miss Maudie teaches Scout of the wrongs of harming innocent creatures, most notable so through the famous Mockingbird example, and the consequences of abusing religion. Calpurnia and Miss Maudie are often cited as Scout’s teachers, but her Aunt Alexandra teaches one of the most important lesson in the story that is often overlooked. While they may not see eye to eye, Aunt Alexandra sets an example for Scout on the significance of family loyalty and courage. Using these characters, Harper Lee illustrates that it truly takes a village to raise a child.
Scout’s morals mature significantly over the span of her childhood, Calpurnia expands Scout’s views on races and class and is, in part, responsible for Scout’s changed mindset seen as the story progresses.

One of the first lessons Scout gains from Calpurnia is when Walter Cunningham, Scout’s poor classmate, comes over for lunch. Scout makes fun of Walter for dousing his food in syrup and Calpurnia quietly brings Scout to the kitchen to reprimand her: “ ‘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 Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin‘ ’em’” (25). Though this scolding, Calpurnia enlightens Scout on the fact that no matter what she has, she will never be better than anyone if she is not courteous and respectful to them, no matter who they are. This lesson remains with Scout as she grows older and is seen to have a positive effect on the way she acts and thinks about race and class. Another important lesson Scout learns from Calpurnia was taught less formally but was nonetheless significant. While their father was away on business, Calpurnia took Jem and Scout to her black church, it is outside that Lula, a member of the congregation confronts Calpurnia on bringing white children with her. Scout believes Lula speaks for the church but is proven wrong when Calpurnia’s son along with

the rest on the church, interferes: “When I looked down the pathway again, Lula was gone. In her place was a solid mass of colored people. One of them stepped from the crowd. It was Zeebo, the garbage collector. ‘Mister Jem,’ he said, ‘we’re mighty glad to have you all here. Don’t pay no ‘tention to Lula, she’s contentious because Reverend Sykes threatened to church her’”(120). Scout and Jem are then welcomed into the church and treated with great respect. Scout sees that most black people in Maycomb do not reciprocate the white’s discrimination and because Calpurnia exposed her to her community, begins to see the errors of racism. In this case, Calpurnia acts as a facilitator of sorts and Scout is truly taken in by a village of sorts gaining wisdom and maturity.
Scout’s next door neighbor miss Maudie Attkins is but another character instrumental to Scout’s growth and development morally. While talking with Miss Maudie one day about the illusive town ghost Boo Radley, Scout is given a new perspective on religion and it’s power when Miss Maudie comments: “‘Thing is, foot-washers think women are a sin by definition. They take the Bible literally, you know….but sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of—oh, of your father’” (46).