Sunday, April 13, 2014

In "To Kill a Mockingbird", what do Calpurnia, Atticus, Jem and Scout look like?

Allow me to break down the appearance of each character individually as described in Harper Lee's novel:

Calpurnia is a lean but stern-framed African-American woman. She typically dresses for her role as maid and nanny, meaning that period workclothes were her common wardrobe. However, when attending church, Calpurnia dresses up, donning dress, hat, and all the habiliments (H. Lee's word) for such an occasion.

Atticus is a taller, lean-framed intellectual. He wears glasses, normally wears a suit and tie, and speaks nearly flawless English, as is the custom for professionals of this era. When Atticus is at home, he "dresses down" or becomes more casual, as is the standard for men of this era.

Jem, depending on what point in the novel we are describing him from, is your average pre-teen southern boy: his dress and manner reflect the geography and culture of the area. Typically, he dresses in pants or short pants, the average shirt, and depending on the weather, he and Scout may run barefoot.

Scout, despite being a girl, dons clothing that denote her tomboyish nature: Rather than wearing a dress, she prefers overalls or even pants, much to the chagrin of Aunt Alexandra and the "proper" women of Maycomb County. Her hair is cut short, but not overly so. All of the Finches, including Scout, are caucasian.

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