Calpurnia is the Finch family's valued African-American
housekeeper in To Kill a Mockingbird. Calpurnia serves as surrogate
mother to Jem and Scout, whose own mother died of a heart attack when Scout was just a
baby. She is strong-willed and strict, but occasionally shows her soft side, which
usually surprises Scout. Calpurnia is well-educated and taught Scout how to write
cursive. She is an excellent cook (though maybe not as good as Aunt Alexandra or Miss
Maudie) who has a grown child (Zeebo) herself. She lives in the Quarters, and Atticus
usually drives her home every evening, though she sometimes stays overnight on a foldout
cot in the kitchen. Calpurnia
... was all angles and bones; she was
nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was as wide as a bed slat and twice as
hard.
Calpurnia had Atticus'
complete confidence, and when Aunt Alexandra tries to convince Atticus to dismiss her,
he calls her a member of the family.
Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia
always won, mainly because Atticus always took her
side.
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