Calpurnia Mother Figure Essay

Throughout this journal, one can determine that Calpurnia is a better mother figure to the Finch children than Aunt Alexandra. To start, there is evidence in the book that indicates Calpurnia as a better mother figure. One piece of this evidence is that she has been working with the Finch family for most of the children’s lives. After their mother’s death, Calpurnia was there to help raise Jem and Scout with Atticus, meaning that she has known the children for years. Calpurnia working closely with the Finches for such a long time means that she has been there to support the children and bond with them. This makes her a better option for a mother figure, as she has a deeper understanding of the children that can only be developed through time

For example, the moment Calpurnia realizes that there is a mad dog on the street, she herds the kids inside and refuses to let them out until the situation is taken care of. This shows how Calpurnia views the children’s safety as an immediate priority, as a mother should. Calpurnia’s care of the children can also be proven by her constant “nagging”, which is actually her attempting to teach the children right from wrong and keep them out of harm’s way. These examples show how Calpurnia concerns herself over the children, and that she pays attention to them, which are both characteristics a good mother should have. The last reason Calpurnia is the preferable mother figure is that she gets along with the children, which is not something Aunt Alexandra can claim. Even though it has been shown that Calpurnia and Scout sometimes spat, they do truly care for one another. For example, when Jem turns twelve and starts ignoring Scout, she finds a friend in Calpurnia, illustrating the closeness between the two. At some point, Atticus himself states that “the children love her” (Lee 183), proving the affections between her and the