Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, is set in the tiny town of Maycomb. Every town has secrets, and this town is full of them. The town of Maycomb is full of racism especially after Atticus Finch agrees to defend an African American man accused of rape, because of this Atticus has to deal with the reactions of the town, Scout has to cope with her own family, and Calpurnia is influenced by her community. Atticus Finch is one of, if not the best, lawyers in Maycomb and has to deal with the criticism of everyone in town. Scout is Atticus’s daughter, she’s feisty and sometimes immature and is dealing with her own family’s opinions about the trial. Calpurnia is the Finch family's nanny or maid. She is a smart African American woman, who is forced to change because of the racism in her community. Nevertheless, this family's bond is, but it gets tested when Atticus takes on this trial.

Atticus Finch is in hot water when he starts defending an African American man in court. The whole town has found their own opinion on the situation. Mrs. Dubose is the old lady that lives down the street from the Finches. She is very sick, but not sick enough to not speak her opinion. As the Finch children are walking past her house, she is sitting on her porch and yells, “Yes indeed, what has this world come to when a Finch goes against his raising? I’ll tell you!” (135) This shows that Mrs. Dubose is in shock that Atticus would go against his raising. The Finch family’s history is very patriotic and the fact that Atticus is defending an African American man goes against this. Mrs. Dubose thinks Atticus is disgraceful. For a sick old woman. “She put her hand to her mouth. When she drew it away, it trailed a long silver thread of saliva.” (135) she definitely has a strong opinion on this situation. Mrs. Dubose also scouts at the children, “Your father’s no better than the black men and trash he works for!” (135) This makes Jem go ballistic. In his mind, nobody in their right mind should have ever said this to a child, especially about their own father. Atticus knows these things are being said about him and he doesn’t even let it get to him, or maybe he just doesn’t show it to his children. The children notice this but say nothing. On the other hand, Mrs. Dubose is not the only lady in town with the guts to speak her unwanted opinions. Aunt Alexandra makes Scout attend her missionary club meeting. All the ladies from the neighbourhood are in the Finches' living room, talking about their weekly gossip. Mrs. Merriweather is a conversationalist, her mouth never stops moving, even if people do not want to hear it. Eventually, the group gets to how the black folks were the day after the trial. Mrs. Merriweather talks about her Sophy. She told Sophy that she “simply is not being a Christian today.” (310) Mrs. Merriweather is more concerned with how her maid or help was not acting properly than the actual verdict of the case. The black community's hope was high but ultimately was gone after the verdict. This is when Mrs. Merriweather goes on about her confusion with the people in the town and their decisions, “I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town. Good, but misguided. Folks in this town who think they are doing right, I mean. Now far be it from me to say who, but some of ’em in this town thought they were doing good awhile back, but all they did was stir ’em up.” (311) Mrs. Merriweather indirectly says that Atticus is causing disruption throughout the town. Miss Maudie is quick to catch on to what she is talking about and puts a stop to it quickly. Miss Maudie is quick to comment, “His food doesn’t stick going down does it?” (312) Miss Maudie subtly brings attention to the fact that Mrs. Merriweather is talking badly about a man whose home she is presently in. Mrs. Merriweather is quick to change the subject. Atticus is not even present and people still throw jabs at him. Atticus knows deep down that this is going on behind his back. His goal is to strive to not let the disease of the town that even some of his family members have, take over his children.

Scout is very impulsive and often acts before thinking it through. At the Finch family Christmas, cousin Francis was teasing Scout about her dad supporting a black man. Scout took things into her own hands. “This time, I split my knuckle to the bone on his front teeth.” (112) She is young and doesn’t quite understand that this type of action is not okay, but it doesn’t go without punishment. “Uncle Jack pinned my arms to my sides and said, “Stand still! (112)” This is one of the first times Scout actually experiences the racism of the world around her and she does not know how to react. This not only is the first time Scout experiences racism in her family, but it also wouldn’t be the last. Aunt Alexandra, Francis’s mom, has come down to stay at the Finch home while Atticus is taking on the trail. One Sunday, while Atticus was out of town, Calpurnia was nice enough to take the children to her church. When they arrive back home from church, Aunt Alexandra is on the step waiting for them. Scout later asks her father if she could go to Calpurnia’s house someday. Before Atticus can even answer, Aunt Alexandra is quick to step in. “And don’t try to get around it. You’ve got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We don’t need her now.” (182) Scout can not wrap her mind around the idea that Aunt Alexandra does not want Calpurnia around. Besides, Calpurnia is a big part of these children’s lives and Scout wants Aunt Alexandra to realize this. 

Calpurnia’s opinion is often overlooked because she keeps it to herself unless someone brings it out of her. Calpurnia avoids conflict involving racism, no matter the situation. Unless it comes down to the kids, then she isn’t afraid to speak up. That Sunday, when the children came with her to her church, conflict quickly ensued. They do not even make it to the doors of the church when they meet Lulu. “What you up to, Miss Cal?” (158) No hi, hello, or good morning straight to the point Lulu is. This took aback Jem and Scout. This is their first time at a church other than their own and they immediately do not feel welcome. The kids instruct Calpurnia that they should just leave, but Cal is adamant about staying. “What you want, Lulu?” (158) Cal spouts. The children feel very out of place and don’t want this unnecessary attention. Finally, Lulu comes out and says what her problem is, “I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to a black people's church.” (158) The worst part of this situation is that Calpurnia is experiencing racism, and it is not even from a white person. Lulu, along with most African Americans in Maycomb, experiences racism. This incident is just the first case in the novel in which an African American is racist towards a white person. Lulu is not only racist towards the children but also towards Calpurnia for bringing these children, where Lulu does not think they belong. Besides this incident, Calpurnia also can not talk the same with other coloured folks as she does at the Finches. Scout asks her why she talks differently. Calpurnia’s double life has just been brought into the light. Calpurnia justifies herself. She does not talk the same with coloured folk because, “It’s not ladylike, in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ‘em.” (167) Calpurnia’s goal is to avoid as much conflict as possible. She is not a confrontational person. Calpurnia is smart. She can read and talk in a sophisticated way. She knows if she went around the black folks talking like she does with the Finches, they would be angry and she does not want to start this drama. As a result of this, she acts differently and lives a double life.

Atticus, Scout, and Calpurnia overcome and persevere through the challenging and racist opinions of the town of Maycomb. Racism in the town of Maycomb comes into the spotlight when Atticus Finch takes on a trial defending an African American man in court. This trail changes the whole town's opinion of Atticus, but he just keeps on living. Scout tries to stay calm and not get in trouble so she doesn’t upset Atticus, but her impulsive ways get the better of her when someone talks bad about her father. Calpurnia tries to keep the kids calm in racist situations; they are all uncomfortable. This town is full of a nasty and contagious disease that it will never fight off.