Calpurnia is the Finch family's black housekeeper and nanny. She's taken care of the children since their mother died when Scout was two--about 4 years when the book begins. One of the first examples of how she is marginalized is when Scout pleads with Atticus to fire her in chapter three. After Calpurnia scolds and smacks her for embarrassing Walter at lunch, Scout explains her response as follows:
"Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnia's iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place. 'She likes Jem better'n she likes me, anyway,' I concluded, and suggested that Atticus lose no time in packing her off" (25).
Scout thinks that since she is the boss's daughter, all she has to do is complain and Calpurnia will be fired. Atticus doesn't fall for any childhood manipulation and tells Scout they couldn't function as a family without her. He also reminds her to mind Calpurnia at all times and packs Scout off to school.
The next time Calpurnia is marginalized for her lower status in the community is in chapter ten when Jem tells her about a mad dog coming their way. The time of year is February, which apparently isn't the season for mad dogs. Thus, when Calpurnia calls Eula May, the town's telephone operator, she isn't believed at first. Calpurnia asks Eula May to call everyone on the street and tell them to stay in their houses until Atticus brings back help. If Calpurnia had been white, there wouldn't have been the following exchange:
"I know it's February, Miss Eula May, but I know a mad dog when I see one. Please ma'am hurry!" (93).
Calpurnia has to ask Eula May to do what she says twice, instead of just once, because she is black and a maid. To Cal's credit, she keeps her head about her and continues with the task at hand.
Finally, Aunt Alexandra marginalizes Calpurnia because she doesn't want the children socializing with her outside of work. She also tries to get her fired because she is supposedly not needed in the house since Alexandra moved in. Atticus responds to his sister by saying that Calpurnia is too valuable to let go because she has been harder on the kids than a mother would have been. She also saved Atticus after his wife died by stepping in and taking over the house with complete control and competence. Atticus ends with, ". . . and another thing, the children love her" (137). If it were any other man, Calpurnia probably would have lost her job twice due to disgruntled complaints about her.
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