Character Analysis Calpurnia - the Maid or Something More?

The Maid or Something More?

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Calpurnia is the African-American cook

and housekeeper for the Finches. When we go beyond the surface though, we find out that she is a friend and a mother figure to Scout and Jem. Calpurnia displays the theme of showing a moral education. She has many very good qualities about her that show this theme. Some of them are that she is loving, strict, and a mother figure. Throughout the book we learn new things about Calpernia and we go beyond the surface to find out just who she is.

Calpernia is a very loving women. She may not show it like other people do, she is more of a tough love person. She shows love to many people in the book, especially towards Scout and Jem. This shows how she acts like a mother towards them and loves them. She was also very caring when she found out that a wild dog was loose and running towards their neighborhood. She ran across the street banging on all the doors and making sure everyone was in their house safe and sound, even the Radleys. By her doing that it shows how she puts other people's safety before her own.

She is also a very strict person. Especially when it comes to Scout and Jem. She

demonstrates being strict by always telling them to be polite to everyone and never be disrespectful. By her telling them that, it shows how her mother senses come in and take control. She is very strict when it comes to Scout. She wants Scout to be the best person that she can be,she is a little harder on her. For example when Scout said something mean to one of their house guest, Calpernia took her in the kitchen and scolded her. She told Scout that that is not the way you act towards one your guests, and she made her sit in the kitchen and eat by herself. This shows how she truly does care how Scout grows up and acts.

Lastley Calpernia is a motherly figure towards Scout and Jem. Since Scout and Jem lost

their mother when they were little Calpernia has been the mother figure in their life. She is always

makes sure that they are looking presentable and being polite. She also comforts them when they are sad, like when Scout came home from her first day of school upset. Calpernia made her some of her famous bread. She was comforting her because she