Why Is Calpurnia Important In To Kill A Mockingbird

The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is full of fascinating side characters, who some people may say don’t serve a purpose, but that is absolutely 100% wrong. Let’s use Calpurnia as an example; the Negro, Finch family maid. Some people may say that she just works for them, but they are very wrong. Scout and Jem have grown up without a mother, so Calpurnia was able to step in not only as an employee, but as an authority figure and part of the family. Atticus himself considers Cal as family. When Aunt Alexandra tried to convince Atticus to get rid of her, he stuck up for Cal saying how much she’s done for them and that she is part of the family and they’ll never get rid of her. This shows that Cal is extremely important to the story, and like a mother to the children. Like any good mother does, she teaches the kids some very important lessons.

Calpurnia was an excellent role model for Scout because she planted various important lessons in her daily life. One example is when she taught Scout to treat everyone equally, no matter what their social

“Calpurnia sent me through the swinging door to the diningroom with a stinging smack,” (Lee 25). Even though this seems very harsh to us, back then it was very normal. Plus, it shows how serious she really is about these important lessons. So even though she may be a little hard on them sometimes, she always has good intentions, and they shine through.

Calpurnia is an amazing side character who plays an extremely important role in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. She steps in as a motherly authority figure, and is a part of the Finch family. Not only do the kids look up to her, but she teaches them very important life lessons, and exposes them to other parts of the community that they didn't know very much about. So next time you think a side character serves no purpose to the story, think