The relationship between Scout and Calpurnia is a rocky
one at the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird. Calpurnia is the
Finch's African-Amerian housekeeper, and she has the full support of Atticus in matters
of discipline and nurturing.
Calpurnia was something else again... Our battles
were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her
side.
Calpurnia has been with
the Finch family since Jem's birth and serves as a mother figure for the children. Scout
thinks that Cal picks on her more than Jem: Scout is younger and Cal always questions
why Scout can't behave like her brother. Cal apparently spanks Scout once in a while
since Scout says that her hand "was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard." Atticus also
gives her the discretion to "serve in his absence" if necessary. Cal keeps a close eye
on the children, "ordering me out of the kitchen" and maintaining a calling distance in
the neighborhood. But Scout is young--not yet six years old--and she will come to
understand that Cal's behavior is always in their best
interests.
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