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Calpurnia Mask Quotes

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Eyes can be conveniently deceived by just hiding the truth and composing a new reality. A new reality that is created by wearing a mask. A mask that hides all the sorrows, misery, hardship, insecurities, imperfections and many more things. A mask that is just a performance for others to see and dwell in it. A mask that makes the eyes believe that what they observe is the reality, yet it might not be close to the truth. In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee develops the idea that sometimes a person is what they portray to be by showing the mask Calpurnia wears. A mask that distinguishes a person’s authentic self and their fabricated self is worn by Calpurnia in the novel. Calpurnia works for the Finch family and is a mother figure to …show more content…

“She asked, in tones I had never heard her use. She spoke quietly, contemptuously” (Lee 135.) This quote shows the contrast of tones of Calpurnia that she uses at home and in the church. The word contemptuously gives evidence about the change of tone from being lovely to having hatred and disrespect. “But Cal, you know better,” (Lee 143) this quote was said by Scout and she was explaining to Calpurnia about not using derogatory terms. This is also an example of Calpurnia’s mask being exposed because earlier in the novel one of the characteristics of her was being wise. Calpurnia using derogatory remarks in her dialect at church contradicts with the wise Calpurnia at home. “They’s my comp’ny, " said Calpurinia. Again I thought her voice was strange: she was talking like the rest of them” (Lee 135.) This quote shows Scout noticing the change of tone in Calpurnia's voice and her mask dropping. This shows that Calpurnia sounded like an uneducated person despite the fact that she is not uneducated. The mask of being perfect and wise was finally lifted from Calpurnia and the truth was finally

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