Thursday, December 26, 2013

In Chapter 3, how is Cal’s role as a mother figure for Scout and Jem depicted?

In Chapter 3, Scout antagonized Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard for allegedly making her first day of school "start off on the wrong foot". Jem stopped her and asked why she was mad at Walter, and when he learned the problem was caused by Walter not having any lunch, Jem invited the boy to dinner at the Finch house. Jem asked Calpurnia to set an extra place for their company. Walter displayed strange table manners, most likely because he was not often presented with the kind of meal he was being given, and Scout was flabbergasted when he poured molasses all over his meal, and embarrassed him. Calpurnia pulled Scout aside to reprimand her for commenting on Walter’s table manners. This was an effort to teach Scout to respect her company and treat them like equals, regardless of their background. Cal pointed out that the Finch’s higher status over the Cunninghams didn't mean anything if Scout could not be civilized at the table. Calpurnia punished her by making her finish her dinner in the kitchen. Calpurnia straddled the roles of servant and mother in this scene. 


 


Slaps her. Makes her finish her meal in the kitchen.

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