Table of ContentsCalpurnia'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, features a rich tapestry of characters that explore various themes and issues prevalent in the American South during the 1930s. One of these characters is Calpurnia, the African-American governess of the Finch family. Although Calpurnia may initially appear as a supporting character, her presence and actions throughout the story help to challenge societal norms and shape the narrative. This essay will analyze Calpurnia's character traits and their implications 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 Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Calpurnia's Loyalty and Devotion One of Calpurnia's most important 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 in the absence of their biological mother. Despite being an African-American woman living in a racially divided society, Calpurnia demonstrates immense love for the Finch children, treating them as if they were her own. This loyalty is illustrated when Calpurnia accompanies Jem and Scout to Calpurnia's African-American church, even though she knows that her presence may be met with hostility from her own community. This act of loyalty highlights Calpurnia's commitment to the Finch family and her willingness to defy society's expectations. Through her actions, Calpurnia challenges Maycomb's deep-rooted racism and exposes the hypocrisy of a society that promotes segregation and discrimination. Calpurnia's Wisdom and Advice Another key aspect of Calpurnia's character is her wisdom and advice, which she passes on to Jem and Scout. As a level-headed and intelligent woman, Calpurnia serves as a moral compass to the children, teaching them important life lessons about empathy, respect and equality. For example, when Scout returns home after her first day of school, frustrated by her teacher's words. Prejudiced against her classmate Walter Cunningham, Calpurnia helps Scout understand the importance of tolerance and empathy. She tells Scout, "There are people who don't eat like us...but you're not called to contradict them at the dinner table when they don't." This boy is your company and if he wants to eat the tablecloth, you let him, you hear? (Lee, 1960, p. 33). Through this incident, Calpurnia teaches Scout the importance of accepting others as they are, regardless of their social or economic background. Calpurnia's Influence on Racial Understanding Calpurnia's role in the Finch household also serves to challenge racial prejudice and promote racial understanding. Despite living in a society where African Americans are considered inferior, Calpurnia proves herself to be intelligent, articulate, and capable. As a result, she breaks Maycomb's white community's stereotypes and assumptions about African Americans. Through her interactions with the Finch family and the community, Calpurnia helps bridge the racial divide by exposing the injustice and irrationality of racial discrimination. For example, during Tom Robinson's trial, Calpurnia escorts Jem and Scout to 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 realities, 1960.