There are several scenes throughout the novel where Calpurnia teaches and exercises the Golden Rule, which is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
In Chapter 3, Jem invites Walter Cunningham Jr. over for dinner. When Walter pours syrup all over his plate, Scout asks him what the "sam hill" he is doing. Scout embarrasses and criticizes Walter for his unmannerly eating habits. Calpurnia immediately requests Scout's presence in the kitchen and chastises Scout for her behavior. Cal says, "There’s some folks who don’t eat like us...but you ain’t called on to contradict ’em at the table when they don’t" (Lee 17). Cal also says,
"Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny, and don’t you let me catch you remarkin’ on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunninghams but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ’em" (Lee 17).
Calpurnia is essentially referencing the Golden Rule by telling Scout to treat Walter Cunningham respectfully which is the way Scout would like to be treated. Also, in Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes the children to First Purchase African M.E. for Sunday service. The children notice that Cal speaks differently around her community members than she does around the home. When Scout asks Cal why she talks incorrectly, Cal says,
“It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike—in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ’em" (Lee 78).
Again, Calpurnia references the Golden Rule by taking into consideration the thoughts and feelings of her community members.
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