Question

Scout tells us that when Calpurnia stays overnight at the Finches’, she sleeps on a cot in the kitchen. Why do you think Harper Lee chose to include this detail in this chapter? What is she trying to show us about the Finches and the rules of Maycomb society?

Answer 1

Harper Lee included the detail of Calpurnia sleeping on a cot in the kitchen to highlight the racial and social divisions in Maycomb society and the Finch family's implicit role in these societal norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The detail in To Kill a Mockingbird of Calpurnia sleeping on a cot in the kitchen illustrates the racial and social divisions present in Maycomb society. By placing Calpurnia in the kitchen rather than providing a room within the household, Harper Lee subtly highlights the Finch family's complicity in upholding certain social norms and boundaries, despite their otherwise progressive attitudes. It underscores the insidious nature of racism and classism, infusing even the households that appear to be more enlightened. Lee's depiction of the domestic spaces and the allocation of these spaces to characters serves as a larger commentary on societal roles and limitations placed on individuals based on race and social status.