Calpurina

4/11/2010

For many parents in society, they feel taken for granted, not needed. When really they are the babckbone of the family. This is how Scout and Jem feel about Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird. They see her as part of the family that will always be there. When really she has her own family and own responsibilities she has to take care of.

Harper Lee hints about Cal's real feelings about her job when it snows and Atticus asks Cal to spend the night. Cal declines and says she would rather enjoy the snow at her own home. This doesn't mean she doesn't love the Finch family, it just means her family is the thing she loves and cares for above anything else, is her own family. She does however, put 110% into making the Finch home a happy and safe place.

In chapter ten, when the rabid dog visits Scout and Jem's street, Cal is the true hero of the day. Without her, someone could have been attacked, or bitten. She put in so much energy to help others, when she could have been hurt. No one saw that though. No one saw how much she cared for everyone, when really some of the people she helped could be racists and think of her as nothing but as an animal. She could have just gotten Scout, Jem, and herself inside, but she risked her safety to warn the Radleys. No one saw this though, they only saw Atticus.

Cal was never thanked. She was never congratulated for her efforts. Nor did she ever ask for thanks. She was just happy that everyone was safe. For some reason, I have a feeling she would rather it be that way, just happy that everyone is safe.