The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was originally published on July 11, 1960, and written by Harper Lee. The novel is a coming-of-age story about Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in an unfair society. It is narrated by Scout as she and her brother, Jem Finch, observe and attempt to understand the events leading up to the central idea of the novel, a court case where a black man is accused of raping a white girl. Lee explores central themes of prejudice, understanding and empathy in the novel through the experiences of Scout, Jem and Atticus. These are encapsulated in the quote in which Atticus Finch advises his daughter, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. The ability to feel what someone else is being confronted with, is a …show more content…
When Jem and Scout bring Walter Cunningham home for dinner, Calpurnia puts on a display of empathy. Walter, prompted by curiosity and lack of knowledge, pours syrup on his vegetables. Appalled, Scout exclaims, “What on the same hill was he doing”, to which Walter places his hands on his lap and ducks his head, clearly embarrassed. Scout protests when Atticus shows disapproval to Scout’s carelessness, and it is then that Calpurnia requests for Scout’s presence in the kitchen. Scout is scolded for her behaviour and told that not all people eat the same way they do, however, Scout has no right to criticise them, “That boy’s company and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?”. It may be due to her own low socio-economic upbringing and current status as a black female maid that Calpurnia is able to empathise with those who are less fortunate and hence treated differently in society. It is evident that Harper Lee wishes to establish Calpurnia’s character and personality as a mother figure to the two children and we are shown her passion in raising them as