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Compare And Contrast Atticus And Calpurnia

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Atticus and Calpurnia: Contrasting Characters with Similar Purpose
What characteristics could connect two astoundingly different characters? In To Kill a
Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch has a level-headed and just personality, whilst his family’s cook, Calpurnia, is strong-headed and critical. Although differences in their characters set them apart, what brings them together is their equal, passionate love and care for the Finch children. Through different methods, both Atticus and Calpurnia make positive impacts on the children’s lives through lessons, lectures and experiences. Thus, though bearing strikingly different personalities, what makes Atticus and Calpurnia similar is that they both have the the best intentions for the Finch children and work hard to mold them into young, respectable adults.
Atticus Finch has a strong, yet fair personality. He ever raises his voice or results to violence, yet still …show more content…

Thus, whilst slightly unconventional, Calpurnia has a distinct role in teaching the Finch children respect and responsibility.
In conclusion, Atticus Finch and Calpurnia are contrasting characters with the same purpose in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus maintains a fair, wise character throughout the novel, in comparison to Calpurnia's cogent, blunt personality. What brings them together is how they set the correct example for and give life lessons to Jem and Scout. This is evident in multiple scenes throughout the novel, and helps develop the deeply-rooted respect in between them, showing that even those with contrasting ideas and characteristics are capable of making the same, positive effects on others.
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Since their mother pasted away, Atticus seems to not know what to do with the children. Due to this, he hires Calpurnia. She acts almost like the mother figure who dresses Scout. She also disciplines the children and attempts to teach them proper manners. Toward the end of the story, due to life threatening events, Atticus’ becomes closer with his children.

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She was hired to be the Finch’s families cook but she had put more into that job then required, she built a close relationship with these kids over the years of her working there, she became a parental figure to them. This was not very common in this time because most families had mom and a dad and if a white family both were white and if it were a black family both were black. Calpurnia was a black worker and was the closest thing the kids had to a mom in the family. During the time of preparation for the trial Atticus was gone a lot and was not able to take the kids to church one Sunday, Calpurnia decided she would take them to her church.

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She teaches these kids that it’s not always the right thing to do what everybody else is doing. Calpurnia looks after these children and takes them in as her own when she is told to. Atticus shows the most examples of courage in this story. He teaches his people many lessons, especially his children.

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In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the character Calpurnia is a valuable member of the Finch family and is vital to their well-being. The first instance this is seen is when Calpurnia supplies Scout with some much need discipline after she had been rude to Walter Cunningham at the dinner table. Calpurnia tells Scout: “That boy's yo' comp'ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?”

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Calpurnia considered Jem and Scout as her own children and poured out her love to them. One Sunday, when Jem and Scout had to go to church with Calpurnia, she says “I don’t want anybody sayin’ I don’t look after my children,” (157). Her word reveals that she sees Jem and Scout as her own children. Also, Calpurnia’s behavior to the children proves that she loved Jem and Scout. The love toward Jem and Scout motivated Calpurnia to feed and teach them.

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Calpurnia and Atticus are characters who behave like other people expect them to behave. First, Calpurnia code switches when she goes to church. She says she has to do this because then other will think she is “better” or “too good” for them in a derogatory way. She is expected to behave a certain way to be able to “fit in” and blend among others. Also, when Atticus is speaking to the jurors, he makes himself comfortable to get on the level of others.

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However, most characters in literature are not meant to be representative of actual people. While Scout and Calpurnia may resemble typical 1930s southern individuals, most characters in novels have unrealistic sets of qualities and are not to be portrayed as regular people. If people acted like Calpurnia, the world would be a more just and equitable place. Additionally, people would be more understanding and empathetic toward others. For example, racism would exponentially decrease, if not completely disappear, if people acted more like Calpurnia.

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Atticus emphasizes to his children the importance of treating Calpurnia with kindness and equality. Atticus's insistence on treating all individuals, regardless of their social status or race, with respect and compassion reflects his beliefs in the inherent worth of every

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Calpurnia is seen both by Atticus and the reader as more than just a housekeeper and a cook; she is a part of the family and fills in the role of a mother to Jem and Scout by helping raise them alongside Atticus. Atticus deeply cherishes Calpurnia’s efforts of taking care of the children. With her doting attitude, yet, strict disciplinary, Calpurnia treats both Scout and Jem as she would her own children. Furthermore, this following quote proves that fatherhood is indeed an arduous and burdensome role as Atticus says these following words. Without Calpurnia by his side, Atticus would have found fatherhood even more of a demanding role without a wife by his side to help support and take care of the family, as well as raise his children to grow

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