IndexCalpurnia's Loyalty and DevotionCalpurnia's Wisdom and GuidanceCalpurnia's Influence on Racial UnderstandingCalpurnia's Role in Shaping the NarrativeConclusionBibliographyHarper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, presents a rich tapestry of characters that explore various themes and issues prevalent in the Southern United States in the 1930s. One of these characters is Calpurnia, the African-American housekeeper of the Finch family. Although Calpurnia may initially appear as a secondary character, her presence and actions throughout the story are instrumental in challenging social norms and shaping the narrative. This essay will analyze Calpurnia's character traits and the implications they have on the themes of race, class, and morality in the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Calpurnia's Loyalty and Devotion One of Calpurnia's most notable character traits is her unwavering loyalty and dedication to the Finch family. From the beginning, it is evident that Calpurnia cares deeply for Jem and Scout, serving as a surrogate mother figure in their biological mother's absence. Despite being an African-American woman in a racially divided society, Calpurnia demonstrates immense love for the Finch children, treating them as if they were her own children. This loyalty is exemplified when Calpurnia accompanies Jem and Scout to Calpurnia's African-American church, despite knowing it. his presence may be met with hostility from his own community. This act of loyalty highlights Calpurnia's commitment to the Finch family and her willingness to challenge society's expectations. Through her actions, Calpurnia challenges Maycomb's deeply ingrained racism and exposes the hypocrisy of a society that promotes segregation and discrimination. Calpurnia's Wisdom and Guidance Another key aspect of Calpurnia's character is her wisdom and guidance, which she imparts to Jem and Scout. As a level-headed and intelligent woman, Calpurnia serves as a moral compass for the children, teaching them important life lessons about empathy, respect, and equality. For example, when Scout comes home from her first day of school, frustrated with her teacher's attitude. prejudiced against her classmate Walter Cunningham, Calpurnia helps Scout understand the importance of tolerance and empathy. He tells Scout, “There are some people who don't eat like us... but you don't have to contradict them at the table when they don't. That boy is from your company and if he wants to eat the tablecloth you let him, do you understand? (Lee, 1960, p. 33). Through this incident, Calpurnia teaches Scout the value of accepting others for who they are, regardless of their social or economic background. Calpurnia's Influence on Racial Understanding Calpurnia's role in the Finch family also serves to challenge racial prejudices and promote racial understanding. Despite living in a society where African Americans are seen as inferior, Calpurnia proves herself to be intelligent, articulate, and capable. As a result, it shatters the stereotypes and assumptions that Maycomb's white community has about African Americans. Through her interactions with the Finch family and community, Calpurnia helps bridge the racial divide by exposing the injustice and irrationality of racial discrimination. For example, during the Tom Robinson trial, Calpurnia accompanies Jem and Scout onto the “colored balcony” of the courtroom, signaling that she wants them to witness the racial injustice prevalent in their society. By exposing them to the reality of racial inequality, Calpurnia strives, 1960.