To Kill a Mockingbird--Calpurnia

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Permalink Reply by Heartfelt Overanalyzer Osman 9B on April 6, 2017 at 2:33pm

Took the words right out of my mouth! The fact that they have a person of color so involved in their life really opens them up. Scout and Jem both have been exposed to many adults that are very open minded such as Atticus, Calpurnia, and Miss Maudie. This helps the children become open-minded and empathetic at such a young age which is what many people are striving for to erase racial biases in a community. An example of how Scout is empathetic due to the great influences she has, is when Miss Caroline doesn't understand the situation of Walter Cunningham and he is ashamed to stand up and explain to her, so Scout gets up and explains the situation out of empathy for his situation, " You're shamin' him, Miss Caroline. Walter hasn't got a quarter at home to bring you, and you can't use any stovewood" (Lee 21). This is showing the empathy Scout has for Walter understands his situation, and we have to take note of the fact that Scout knows the situation because of his father Atticus " My special knowledge of the Cunningham tribe- one branch, that is- was gained from events of last winter. Walter's father was one of Atticus's clients" (Lee 20). Like stated before, Scout and the other children are very empathic and understand of others because of their elders influence and the fact that they have a person of color as a high kind figure in their family

Permalink Reply by Sekaakwa 9c on April 8, 2017 at 12:32pm

I for one don't believe that the author of the novel, Harper Lee, placed two characters in this story with the same personalty, and meaning with different colors to show how black and white are not different but are the same. It was to see how us as the reader comprehend that. And to show ourselves how racist we (the readers) really are, its no to effect the story broad or story line, but to make you think and get more into the novel as a whole, since it deals with color. Its to show you how even though both women are the same, other then color, and we (the readers) have better opinions, or more positive ones, towards one women, rather then the other. And if the novel was one dealing with gender inequality, Lee would have created one to be a women, and one be a men of the same color, to challenge our thoughts and again prove that we are bias, any way we can be.

Permalink Reply by RIKA 9B on April 6, 2017 at 6:00pm

     I didn't realize that Miss Maudie and Cal have different skin colors! It makes so much sense now why Harper Lee inserted two very similar characters in the book. I think that Lee is trying to show that while Miss Maudie and Cal appear to be different on the outside, they are more similar than they appear. This is showed by their action. How they are both like motherly figures and they both go on to teach Scout that she shouldn't; believe every rumor she hears and shouldn't treat people differently based on what she hears. Although of different color, Miss Maudie and Cal are pretty similar in the actions they have shown thus far in the book.

   To add on, they do seem to have similar roles, however they are both needed for the development of Scout. They are different in a way. Cal is more active in disciplining Scout and telling her things because she is always there. Scout just doesn't seem to understand Cal a lot. Scout sees Cal in a completely different way than Miss Maudie. She thinks "[Cal likes Jem better'n she likes [Scout]" (Lee 33). Whenever Cal yells at Scout trying to advise her, Scout gathers hatred toward Cal. Whenever Scout doesn't understand anything she goes to Miss Maudie. Scout says that she has "considerable faith in Miss Maudie. She never told on [Jem and Scout]...[Miss Maudie] was [her] friend" (Lee 59). As you can see Scout treats the two very differently. Cal is usually there with Scout, but instead of calmly explaining things to Scout in a way that she would understand, she yells and scolds her. This causes Scout to see her as a mean person. Miss Maudie isn't always there for Scout. Scout usually goes to her when she wants to have a deep conversation. Unlike Cal, Miss Maudie explains to Scout and is seen as more of a nice person. They may try to teach the same things, but they somehow have different ways of communicating what they want to teach or say.

Permalink Reply by Sunset 9B on April 5, 2017 at 6:46pm

What I feel about Calpurnia is that she is the glue of the whole story. She keeps the story balanced and on track without out losing the point of the story. She is like a mother to both Jem and Scout. I see Calpurnia as a mother because she takes care and teaches and fixes Jem and scouts actions and mistakes. Without her, Jem and Scout probably would have been bad kids doing bad things without knowing that they are doing them. To further illuminate my point on how I see Calpurnia as a mother, in chapter 3, in the kitchen, Calpurnia yells at Scout by saying "Hush you 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 cant act fit to eat at the table you can just set here and eat in the kitchen!" (Lee 24-25). When I read this, I felt Calpurnia sounded like  mother to Scout by correcting her mistake. If Calpurnia wasn't there to correct Scout, then Scout would keep on embarrassing  and pointing out the Cunningham's differences without being respectful. I cant think of Calpurnia as anything else besides a mother because she is home to take care of them more than there father, Atticus, does/is. This is what I think about Calpurnia in this story.

Permalink Reply by Imagine 9A on April 5, 2017 at 9:14pm

Calpurnia has a very strong purpose in the story of course she plays the longing mother for Scout and Jem she may go to extreme measures into teaching them life lessons in general. she reminds me of my mother in a way very protecting of her children, although she isn't their mother by blood. Just because she isn't their blood it didn't stop her from teaching scouts. This goes to show that family by blood isn't always the strongest relationship that we wield; its the love and care that is built in between us that makes us family. In the book Calpurnia seemed furious with scout "Calpurina sent me through the swinging door to the dining room with a stinging smack" (Lee 25). she might've used a harsh manner towards scouts but it was all for the sake of teaching her. she was also a scared angered mother trying to protect or lead her kids to the right path. But I'm against the fact that she used such brute force although I can see why if she didn't stop scout from her disrespect toward different types of people this habit could grow as a greater issue when she grows up. Without her in the story then Jem and Scout may grow up in a very unhealthy way with wrong ideologies.  

Permalink Reply by Half Empty 9A on April 5, 2017 at 9:59pm

So, do you believe that there would still be discipline in the family without Calpurnia?

Permalink Reply by Imagine 9A on April 5, 2017 at 10:28pm

Yes I do believe that there will be discipline without Cal because there is still atticus which also cares about scot and jem but has a more gentle/calm way of portraying it. But I feel like there is a greater effect with Cal disciplining the kids since she takes the place of their mother.

Permalink Reply by Wrighty 9D on April 6, 2017 at 6:47am

Do you think anyone in the family would want to fire Calpurina? How would that effect the family?

Permalink Reply by Bro. Teacher on April 6, 2017 at 9:57am

Hehe.  I think you mean "affect" the family.  But of course Scout would get rid of Cal in a heartbeat.  There is no way that Atticus would, and I really do not see any evidence that Jem would either.  But the way Scout talks about Cal, I wouldn't be surprised if Scout wanted her out--at least at this point in her life.  We need to remember that Scout is very young and the purpose of being young is to make lots of mistakes and learn from them, so that we do not repeat those same mistakes later in life when the consequences are more serious (because we have more responsibility).  

But I do feel the children would be much different if Cal weren't around.  While Atticus is a fair main, he is not in any way affectionate.  Heck, he let's the kids call him by his first name for crying out loud!  He is also a very busy man who is not around much any more.  No, I truly believe that when he says "We couldn't get by a day without Cal," he truly means it! (Lee 38).  Atticus may "make" the rules... but it is Cal who actually does the work of enforcing them.

Permalink Reply by Iridescent 9A on April 6, 2017 at 4:07pm

not really. Cal keeps everything in check. i mean yes Atticus is great and does do good. but Cal is there for the kids when he is unable to be and Atticus is too easy on them in a way. 

Permalink Reply by Half Empty 9A on April 5, 2017 at 10:06pm

          I feel that Calpurnia is a type of motherly figure and the rule setter for Jem and Scout. Her purpose is to discipline the two so that when they grow old, they are well behaved. Unlike Atticus, the children's father, he's not as much engaged in Jem and Scout's lives like Calpurnia (teaching them right from wrong). Instead, he's more focused on making a living so his family can survive. Cal is in the text to teach the boys- especially scout- that a little physical discipline is needed in one's life in order to control their actions. For example, when Scout was describing how Calpurnia was he stated " Calpurnia was something else. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard...Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side. She had been with us ever since Jem was born, and I had felt her tyrannical presence as long as I could remember" (Lee 6). This quotes explains how Scout feels that Cal is mother to himself and that she has been there for him since the day he was born. Without Cal, the story would lose that essence of respect in behavior and trust in the family. Without Calpurnia, the story would lack the ideology of the boys having someone to look after them. It would change the plot and the behavior of the boys, especially Scout- since children learn from older figures (mostly parents). 

Permalink Reply by Wrighty 9D on April 6, 2017 at 6:42am

Truly, Calpurnia is more than a cook. She takes her role as a mother quite seriously. Calpurnia could be the mother Jem and Scout never had because she is wise, caring, and patient with the kids. Calpurnia corrects Scout when she offends the Cunningham boy. Calpurnia acts as a mother figure in her correction: "Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house, they are company and don't let me catch you remarking on their ways like you were so high and mighty." (Lee 24) Calpurnia teaches Scout that she is no better than others, a lesson she will forever hold on to: "Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams 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 sit here and eat in the kitchen!” (Lee 25) Calpurnia acts as a loving mother and teaches Jem and Scout about life. She does act as a parent and she gets total support from Atticus, and the children know this. No doubt, even though she sometimes can be harsh, Calpurnia cares deeply about the children.

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