Describe Scout’s relationship with Calpurnia up to this point in the novel. Can we trust Scout’s perspective on this issue? Why or why not? Barrocas


In chapter 3, at the kitchen table, Scout was making fun of how poor Walter Cunningham and his family are, ridiculing the amount of syrup he poured onto all of his food. Calpurnia, the maid and motherly figure in the Finch family, disciplines Scout for her condescending words towards Walter, telling her, “Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s is yo comp’ny and don’t let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty!” (27). Calpurnia’s words here show that she acts as a disciplinary mother figure in absence of Scout’s biological mother. In addition, Calpurnia shows her what’s right and wrong in terms of how to treat other people. Later in chapter 4, Scout mentions that “Calpurnia’s tyranny, unfairness, and meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumblings of general disapproval,” (38) which shows that she maintains an active role in Scout’s life, but begins to ease up on her as she grows up. Since the book is written in first person, it is only showing this relationship from Scout’s perspective. Therefore, it is difficult to judge the dynamic of this relationship from Calpurnia’s angle. Because this relationship and the entire book is presented as a “single story,” one cannot completely trust Scout as the narrator.

Do you think Calpurnia plays a motherly figure in Scouts life?
Does Atticus or Calpurnia have more of an active role in Scout's life?
Why does Atticus leave the disciplinary job to Calpurnia?

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2019 at 3:45 PM

    I believe that Calpurnia is a motherly figure in Scouts life as she is the only one who disciplines her in the family. She cooks for her and does motherly things around the household. After Scouts mother died Calpurnia took on the mother role and has been there for her ever since. She loves Scout and takes care of her as her own child. Atticus is more like a mentor in the family and isn't really a father, he offers her advice and teaches her how to be an independent woman. Atticus leaves the discipline to Calpurnia because he is not as active in her life as Calpurnia is. Harper Lee does this because it shows how Atticus affects Scouts growth. Atticus teaches her things like how to read, and empathy. Since the Maycomb Schools do not offer much of this knowledge. Why did Harper Lee make it so Atticus was more of a mentor, and Calpurnia is more of a "parent"?

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  2. HadleySeptember 15, 2019 at 4:43 PM

    Yes, I do believe that Calpurnia plays a motherly role in Scout’s life. Since, Scout’s mother had passed when Scout was just a baby Scout has grown up with her as if she was her mother. This creates a special bond with them and because they are so close Calpurnia is able to reprimand Scout when she's misbehaving. The fact that Calpurnia can do this shows that she isn’t just a stranger to Scout but they are close that they act as family. Calpurnia motherly instincts are evident as she is teaches Scouts proper manners, cooks for her daily, and provides twenty -four, seven care to Scout. As Scout grows in these two chapters her bond with Calpurnia becomes more solidified.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2019 at 6:30 PM

    I do think Calpurnia plays a motherly figure in Scouts life. Scout’s mother died when she was very young, and Calpurnia was the only woman in her life. Calpurnia automatically became a mother figure because of the situation. Calpurnia is also the only adult around when Atticus is at work. Even when Atticus is home, Calpurnia reprimands Scout if she misbehaves. Calpurnia plays a motherly role in Scouts life because Scout doesnt have any others and Calpurnia is the only adult who disciplines her.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2019 at 6:46 PM

    I don’t think that Atticus purposely leaves disciplining the kids to Calpurnia. Atticus is rarely home
    during the day which leaves Calpurnia as the only authority figure home. If Atticus were home more
    often then he would discipline the kids. At the end of chapter 5, when Jem, Dill, and Scout try to give a letter to Boo Radley, Atticus does not hesitate to discipline the children. He tells Dill, Jem,
    and Scout to not torment Boo. After that, Atticus leaves, but if he could have stayed home, I think
    he would have watched the kids more carefully to make sure that they didn’t try to give the letter to
    Boo again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2019 at 2:00 AM

    I think Calpurnia is a partial mother figure in Scout's life. Although she is the women figure around the house that Scout lacks, compared to Miss Maudie, which who Scout willingly spends a lot more time with, I think Calpurnia is not the only mother figure in Scout's life. While Calpurnia may offer that strictness and discipline a mother may enforce, Miss Maudie offers more of a caring role. To say Calpurnia is the only mother figure is incorrect, but she definitely is an influential figure in Scout's life.

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