The character of Calpurnia in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Calpurnia is a central and flat character in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. She is an African American woman who serves as a housekeeper and cook, to the characters Jem, Scout, and Atticus. The audience gets to know her through her interactions with her family. Lee portrays this character as a maternal figure, a non-racist and non-confrontational individual. In the novel, readers see Calpurnia for the first time as a mother figure. For example, Atticus tells Aunt Alexandra, “I'm not going to get rid of her, not now or ever. We couldn't operate a single day without Cal, have you ever thought about it” (33). She then tells Scout, “Think about how much Cal does for you, and you care for her, you feel” (33) / These quotes show that she is very loved, appreciated, and needed by the family and does this for Scout, Jem, and Atticus. Only a mother would love, care for, and support a family as much as Calpurnia. Another example of Calpurnia showing herself to be a mother figure to her second family is when Scout recognizes him...