CHARACTER OF CALPURNIA

Calpurnia is the Finch family cook, but she also plays a big part in bringing up and educating Scout and
Jem. She is a replacement and surrogate mother for Jem and Scout. She imposes stricter discipline on the
children than a mother would. Calpurnia originally served in Finch Landing and moved to Maycomb with
Atticus when he was married. She has been the family’s cook since Jem was born; so, even before Atticus’
wife died. She was from the ‘slave stock’ but is held in high regard and trusted by Atticus. She has gained
Atticus’ respect as a ‘faithful member’ of the family. She has helped Atticus to raise his children. When
Aunt Alexandra wants to get rid of her, Atticus is firmly against it, ‘We couldn’t operate a single day
without Cal.’ This is the first example we can see of the change in society where some of the white men
start to trust and even consider the darker ones as their equals.

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the nineteen-thirties, a time when racism was very common and, in
America, the Ku Klux Klan was operating, having been reactivated in nineteen fifteen. At that time,
despite their loss of the civil war, the Southern states were continuing to practice racism. Many Southern
landowners were determined to keep cheap black labour. In the novel, the black community is portrayed
very positively, as they are shown as reacting in an absolutely non-violent way to the racist abuse that
they suffer, behaving passively and even still helping white people. In this way, they are portrayed as
'heroes'. The jobs that black people were able to get were always very lowly and degrading, such as
Calpurnia the housekeeper, Tom as a cotton picker, and Zeebo the dustbin man. They were not put in any
position where they may have any sort of power.

Calpurnia is described as all angles and bones; short-sighted and squinting. She rarely comments on the
ways of white people except about Mr.Radley, ‘There goes the meanest man ever God blew breath into.’
Calpurnia is largely silent about issues of race, possibly because she understands the danger of speaking
out about her experience. She hides her problems from others because she's scared of speaking out as a
black woman in the 1930s. Scout tells us that when she is furious, her grammar becomes erratic;
otherwise, it is as good as anybody’s in Maycomb. She teaches them right from wrong, disciplines and
comforts them when they are upset. Calpurnia seems soft towards Jem in many instances. For example,
after Jem wrecks Mrs. Dubose’s camellia, and the kids are skulking around, Calpurnia knows Jem is upset
and gives him a hot biscuit-and-butter. Calpurnia, being an experienced mother, has seen the changes in
the behaviour of children at various stages of their growth, and starts giving Jem his space, and calls him
‘Mister Jem’. Scout realizes Calpurnia is not as bad as she once thought. Scout realizes Calpurnia can be
nice when given the chance.

At first Scout talks of her ‘tyrannical presence’ and is conscious of her hand being ‘as wide as a bed
slat and twice as hard’; and it is true that Calpurnia is without sentimentality and can, on occasion, be
quite fierce. We see Cal use this hand to deliver Scout a "stinging smack" when she comments on Walter
Cunningham’s eating habits. But in everything, she is motivated by her real love for the children.
Calpurnia was taught letters by Miss Maudie’s aunt and learned to read by working through Atticus’ law
books. She in turn has taught Scout to write by setting her tasks like copying a passage from the bible to

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keep her quiet when she is bored, so she is important in teaching the children ‘she had taught me to write
and it was all her fault.’ When Scout and Jem both leave to go to school, Calpurnia feels their absence
and has to turn on the radio to distract herself. Calpurnia has always told Scout what to do and how to
behave properly, to the extent that Scout finds it annoying.

Cal is closest with Scout as she is the younger child and spends more of her time with Calpurnia while
Jem plays with Dill or helps Atticus. Calpurnia is strict with the children, but also has a sense of
compassion and is kind to them when they are finding life difficult. She cares about the Finch family and
can be affectionate towards Scout despite her stern and strict discipline, ‘Calpurnia bent down and
kissed me.’ She is also kindhearted- she tells Scout to come to the kitchen if she ever feels ‘lonesome.’
When Jem becomes more distant, it is Calpurnia who Scout turns to. When Scout is sad or upset, Calpurnia
is known for cheering her up with a little bit of cracklin' bread or a small treat to brighten her spirits.

Calpurnia is aware of the prejudices of the time, and she understands that anybody, regardless of their
background, ought to be treated equally as a company. Indeed, this can be seen when she berates Scout
for mistreating the Cunninghams, ‘Hush your mouth! …anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’
company.’ Calpurnia is largely responsible for teaching Scout and Jem about what it means to be a good
person in the context of the community around them. She wanted Scout to learn that just because she has
a lot in life doesn’t mean she can treat other people badly.

Cal’s presence gives Jem and Scout insight into the African American community and a greater
understanding of the racial tension in Maycomb. Calpurnia is a strong character, a bit like a female version
of Atticus. While she may not have extensive formal schooling, she has gained much wisdom from life's
experiences. She, like Atticus, isn't quick to judge, a rare quality in the racially divided town of Maycomb.

Calpurnia represents the bridge between the white and black communities and she moves with ease
amongst the two. She leads a ‘modest double life’, partly amongst white people and partly at home with
her fellow negroes. This is shown most clearly when the children accompany her to church and see her
within her own community. There were separate churches for blacks and whites. Scout and Jem’s visit to
Calpurnia’s church is a significant event in the story as it brings to light the contrast between the lives of
the whites and the blacks of Maycomb, and thus provides an insight into the racism prevalent in the
society. The church is described as rather an old, dilapidated and paint-peeled building, which is named
First Purchase as it was paid for from the first earnings of the freed slaves. However, it is seen that the
church is not treated with reverence but by the blacks, “Negroes worshipped in it on Sundays and white
men gambled in it on weekdays.” The poor economic status of the church is evident through a number
of its practices.

The children are surprised when they learn that she talks differently amongst her own people, ‘She talks
white folks’ talk … colored folks’ talk.’ She changes how she speaks depending on who she is with and
understands how important it is to fit in. Calpurnia is very down to earth in her explanation of this. People

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have got to want to be educated themselves. Nobody can force them. If they do not want it, there is no
point flaunting your own education. She ha the courage to stand up to her fellow Negro Lula who does
not want the white children in the Black church and says to her "they's my comp'ny" and "It's the same
God, ain't it?".

Calpurnia functions as Scout’s, and the reader’s, window into the world of the black citizens of Maycomb.
Through the character of Calpurnia, Harper Lee clearly shows the different lives the black community
and white community lead, the communities seem like worlds apart. The black community even lived in
separate parts of Maycomb, segregated from each other, "Church was in the quarters outside the
southern town limits." Their way of living is shown in the book as very different to the white community,
"There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn books."

Atticus says ‘Calpurnia has more education than most coloured folks,’ therefore implying that people
just presumed she is poorly educated and has no understanding. Black people are strongly stereotyped.
Calpurnia is treated unfairly by Aunt Alexandra who tries to persuade Atticus to fire Calpurnia, because,
in her eyes, Calpurnia is not a good enough female role model. This is a prejudiced action because
Calpurnia is as good a role model as Aunt Alexandra, if not better. Aunt Alexandra is a bigot and doesn't
see the character of Calpurnia, just the colour of her skin.

Calpurnia is very important in the family theme because she is part of the Finch family and she is also
part of the Negro family. In the novel, she shows how one can be part of two different kinds of families
and be important in both. Because of the nature of the Maycomb population, the same families have lived
in the area for nearly two hundred years, so the people of Maycomb feel that each family has inherited
particular characteristics, which has led to social division. For instance, the division between the Negroes
and the whites, but Calpurnia has taught the children about the importance of family and that different
backgrounds don't mean anything.

Prejudice, hatred, fear and violence exist between whites and Negroes. Calpurnia helps to teach the
children what they are and how and why they are wrong. So, when it comes to the court case between a
Negro and a white girl, children can understand that they are both equal and that it's an unfair case. She
also helps to show the children how the people in Maycomb don't realize their own hypocrisy and she
gives them an insight into what Negro life is actually like.

Cal displays kindness to many individuals throughout the novel. Jem and Scout tell Cal that there is a dog
on the street and it needs their help. When Cal further examines the dog from a distance, she figures out
that the dog does not need their help. It was rabid. Calpurnia tries to warn everyone in the neighbourhood
about the rabid dog. During the chaos, Scout states, “Calpurnia's message had been received by the
neighbourhood. Every wood door within our range of vision was closed tight”. In doing this, Cal

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wants to make sure everyone in the neighbourhood is protected from the dog. Even though Atticus is at
work, Cal still wants him to know that Jem and Scout are safe. Calpurnia is not familiar with some of the
neighbours but still wants to help them. She tries to break the barrier between blacks and whites in the
southern community. Cal gives Atticus and the children information about the Robinson family. She is
the person that Atticus chooses to accompany him to tell Helen of her husband’s death after the trial that
accused him of raping Mayella Ewell. Atticus asks Calpurnia to thank the black community for their gifts
to him after the trial but reminds her to tell them that they mustn’t do this as life is hard.

Calpurnia is intelligent and is one of the few black characters in Maycomb who can read and write. This
gives the reader hope that people like her can use their education to change white people’s attitudes and
liberate the black community. Her role can be seen as emphasizing the dignity and discipline of the black
community.

Calpurnia may seem like an all-too-familiar variation of the southern character trope of the contented
slave. In fact, all of the black characters in the novel seem, at least primarily, to serve as props for the
stories of the white characters that surround them. Calpurnia, like other black characters in the novel,
especially Tom Robinson, is resilient, long-suffering, and grateful to the good white people around her
who are not racist.

The reader sees Calpurnia through Scout’s eyes. At the start of the novel, Scout does not respect Calpurnia,
resents Calpurnia's rules, restrictions and thinks that she is trying to control her life like a ‘tyrant’, but
towards the end, Scout sees that Cal has been trying to help and protect her. Scout later recognizes and
respects Calpurnia for her strength, intelligence, and kindness. Overall Calpurnia is an important character
in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird because she is involved in all the main themes of the book. Calpurnia
is considered to be an essential asset to the Finch family’s household.

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