To Kill A Mockingbird Calpurnia Quotes

“After one altercation when Jem hollered, ‘It’s time you started bein’ a girl and acting right!’ I burst into tears and fled to Calpurnia. ‘Don’t you fret too much over Mister Jem-’ she began… ‘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,’” (Lee, 153-154). In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, one of the characters, Calpurnia, is an aged, African American worker that Atticus respects. In this book, she resides in Alabama during the 1930s, when there was still segregation. Despite the completely contrasting perceptions from other African

When Calpurnia is scared she is still able to comfort Scout such as a mother would to her child by saying, “‘Don’t you fret,’ Calpurnia whispered to me, but the roses on her hat trembled indignantly,” (Lee, 158). When it is clear that Calpurnia and Scout have no relation, whatsoever, she still is able to reassure her. She continually proves her solicitude towards Scout by teaching her about what goes on in the world and by caring about her well being, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Calpurnia knows that they would not be connected other than the fact that she works for them and has to watch over them. Nevertheless, Calpurnia goes above and beyond when she decided to take their own needs before her own, by comforting them and not letting them worry about something, when she is clearly worried herself. She makes people reevaluate the relationship that black people can have with white people, by showing the close and nurturing relationship that she has primarily with Scout, but also with Jem. Her continual dedication to caring for Jem and Scout is not something that they would necessarily realize, but subconsciously they know what she does for them and how much concern and love she puts into looking after them. Even though it is her job to cook and look after the kids, she has this bond that makes her more like a surrogate mother towards them, in which it could be because she has been with them before Scout was born. However, Calpurnia has this never ending love that she feels towards the kids, and no matter what, it will never go away. She will always feel the need to look after and care for these kids that she has grown to love so