1. LOOKS LIKE
1.1. Skinny
1.1.1. “She was all angles and bones” Chapter 1 Page 6
1.1.1.1. Calpurnia is described as extremely skinny in this book, and this might be due to the face that she could have been under fed as a child.
1.2. Strong
1.2.1. “Her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard” Chapter 1 Page 6
1.2.1.1. She was always there of the children, and offered them the best advice possible, she was their rock.
1.3. Black
1.3.1. “Calpurnia has more education than most colored folk” Chapter 4 Page 27
1.3.1.1. black people were not known for having good education, but Atticus argued that she had a better education then most white people.
2. BELIEFS & vALUES
2.1. Racial Equality
2.1.1. Chapter 12, Page 129 - "It’s the same God, ain’t it?”
2.1.1.1. As part of the black community Calpurnia believes in racial equality. She believes everyone was created equally by God and should treat each other with respect.
2.2. Christian
2.2.1. Chapter 12, Page 129 - “How’d you and Mister Jem like to come to church with me tomorrow?”
2.2.1.1. Calpurnia attends to the First Purchase Church which is part of the black community. Calpurnia shows Christian values in her life and is not afraid to take Jem and Scout into a coloured church.
2.3. Caring
2.3.1. Chapter 3, Page 30 - "Calpurnia bent down and kissed me. I ran along, wondering what had come over her. She had wanted to make up with me, that was it. She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so."
2.3.1.1. Calpurnia is a very caring person. It is one of her strong values she has. She takes care of Finches and helps out the black community during and after the case of Tom Robinson.
3. HOW OTHERS SEE HER...
3.1. Part of the family
3.1.1. "Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She’s a faithful member of this family and you’ll simply have to accept things the way they are.” Page 137
3.1.1.1. Alexandra did like Calpurnia because she saw her as a ’slave’. But Atticus saw past that because he really knew how good she was at taking care of his children.
3.2. Strict
3.2.1. “She was always ordering me out of the kitchen, asking me why I couldn’t behave as well as Jem when she knew he was older, and calling me home when I wasn’t ready.” Page 6
3.2.1.1. Calpurnia was always on top of the kids and making sure they were doing the right things at home and on time. She was defiantly a motherly figure for Jem, Scout, and even Atticus.
3.3. Caring
3.3.1. "I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We’ll find lots of things to do in here.” Page 113
3.3.1.1. Scout was upset that Jem was growing up and didn’t have time for her anymore, but Calpurnia said that she will always find something for them to do together in the kitchen. This demonstrates how compassionate she really is.
4. ACTS LIKE
4.1. A mother to Scout and Jem
4.1.1. "Baby,' said Calpurnia, 'I just can't help it if Mister Jem's growin' up. He's gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, doin' whatever boys do, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We'll find lots of things to do in here.’ pg 125.
4.1.1.1. Here Calpurnia is showing her motherly side to Scout.
4.2. Very proud and Protective
4.2.1. ‘I felt Calpurina’s hand ding into my shoulder. ‘What you want, Lula? she asked, in tones I had never heard her use. ‘I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to nigger church?’ ’They’s my company,’ said Calpurnia. Again I thought her voice strange: she was talking like the rest of them. ‘Yeah, an’ i reckon you’s comp’ny at the Finch house durin’ the week.’ a Murmer ran through the crowd. ‘Dont you fret,’ Calpurnia Whispered to me, but the roses on her hat tumbled indignantly. pg 129
4.2.1.1. Calpurina is Defending her Family
4.3. Two different people when she’s around black’s and whites.
4.3.1. "Cal," I asked, "why do you talk nigger-talk to the - to your folks when you know it's not right?" ..."Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses." "But Cal, you know better," I said. "It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike - in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates 'em. You're not gonna change any of them by talkin' right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language." -page 139-144.
4.3.1.1. Calpurnia has to live two different lives to avoid judgement from the two societies she’s apart of.
5. MOTIVATED BY
5.1. Her love and respect for the Finch Family
5.1.1. ‘Atticus's voice was even: "Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are.” pg 149
5.1.1.1. This quote demonstrates the effect Calpurnia has on the Finch family and how well respected and appreciated she is.
5.2. Her Beliefs and Values (especially equality)
5.2.1. ‘Lula stopped, but she said, ‘you ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun’ here - they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?’ Calpurnia said, ‘It’s the same God, ain’t it?’ pg. 129
5.2.1.1. Calpurnia believes strongly in equality and she isn’t one to be messed with. Calpurnia is one of the main links in the book between the black and white society.
6. TEXTUAL ISSUES OR CONCERNS LINKED TO THIS CHARACTER
6.1. Being part of the Finches
6.1.1. Chapter 14, Page 149 -Atticus's voice was even: "Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are.”
6.1.1.1. Calpurnia is like family to the Finches but Aunt Alexandra wants Atticus to get rid of her since they don’t need her anymore. Atticus says no because she is like family to them.
6.2. Racial status
6.2.1. 12, Page 136 - Cal," I asked, "why do you talk nigger-talk to the—to your folks when you know it's not right?” […] "Suppose you and Scout talked colored-folks' talk at home it'd be out of place, wouldn't it? Now what if I talked white-folks' talk at church, and with my neighbors? They'd think I was puttin' on airs to beat Moses.” "But Cal, you know better," I said. "It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike—in the second place, folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates 'em. You're not gonna change any of them by talkin' right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.”
6.2.1.1. Calpurnia works as a maid but is still part of the black community, she even speaks in different accents depending on what kind of people she is with right now. She lives a double life and the children find out about this when she takes them to her church.
6.3. Tom Robinson's Death
6.3.1. Chapter 24, Page 256 - "Cal...I want you to go with me out to Helen Robinson’s house—Tom’s dead." […] "Cal, I want you to come out with me and help me tell Helen”
6.3.1.1. Atticus had asked Calpurnia to assist him with going to go to Helen and breaking the news. Through Calpurnia the Finches learn how the black community is reacting towards Tom’s case.
6.4. Raising the children
6.4.1. Chapter 3, Page 26 & 30 - "Have you ever considered that Jem doesn’t worry her half as much?...I’ve no intention of getting rid of her, now or ever. We couldn’t operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought of that? You think about how much Cal does for you, and you mind her, you hear?”
6.4.1.1. Calpurnia is basically a mother to Scout and Jem. She has been with them since they were very young and she is thought to be part of the family. She takes the role of a mother because Scout and Jem do not have a mother.