Importance Of Calpurnia In To Kill A Mockingbird

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird is centered around a rape case that is basically the word of a black man against the word of two white people. This case directly affects the Finch family because their father, Atticus Finch, is defending the black man on trial. The setting of the story, Maycomb County, has a history of racism and the people don’t want to change. Atticus is fighting an uphill battle with the support of his family, Scout and Jem, as well as their cook and maid Calpurnia. Calpurnia is black, and she happens to be a very important and influential character in the story. Some examples of her importance include her influence on the Finch children, her beliefs about equality, and her relationship with the black community. Calpurnia has a great influence on the actions of the Finch children because of her position in their family. Calpurnia is the family’s cook, which means she is

Because Calpurnia is black, she goes to the black church in Maycomb called First Purchase African M.E. Church. One sunday when Atticus is out of town Calpurnia brings the children to her church. At the church, a woman named Lula has a problem with white children being in her church. She says, “I wants to know why you bringin’ white chillun to nigger church” (158). Calpurnia replies, “They’s my comp’ny” (158). This also shows that Calpurnia believes that even white people should be treated fairly which is what she adds to the story. She provides the viewpoint of what she and other black people think of white people. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird has many important characters. One of these characters happens to be Calpurnia. Calpurnia brings many things to the story like her views about equality, her views about other blacks, and her relationship with the Finch family. Calpurnia is an irreplaceable character and the book would be very different without