The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

“I had heard debates at the dinner table between my grandfather and our minister, Mr. Barker, concerning Mr. Charles Darwin’s book The Origin of Species and the dinosaurs they were unearthing in Colorado and what this meant to the Book of Genesis.”

Charles Darwin and his book The Origin of Species are motifs that function as a catalyst for Callie’s determination to defy social expectations. Darwin’s novel, which strongly contrasts traditional Christian beliefs, encourages Callie to challenge the social expectations that are placed upon her as a young woman in the south.

“One day I would have all the books in the world, shelves and shelves of them. I would live my life in a tower of books. I would read all day long and eat peaches. And if any young knights dared to come calling in their white chargers and plead with me to let down my hair, I would pelt them with peach pits until they went home.”

Early in the novel, Callie explains that she does not want to devote her life to becoming a wife and mother; she craves knowledge and loves to learn despite the limitations placed on girls and women in this area. Books function to provide Callie with the knowledge that is not conventionally offered to women within this society, and this dynamic becomes more prominent as Granddaddy sneaks Callie controversial novels like A Tale of Two Cities and The Origin of Species.

“Who was I—Callie Vee Tate of Fentress, Texas—to think that I could even contemplate such matters? A nobody from nowhere.”

Callie contemplates her ability to challenge the social expectations placed upon her as a young woman. She has found evidence that Darwin’s theory of the evolution happens every day in the natural world, but she believes that she cannot dare to agree or disagree with Darwin due to her place within the social hierarchy within southern culture. This thought reflects the extreme restrictions baked into southern society in the 19th century, and Callie’s broader journey highlights The Challenges of Defying Social Expectations.

“‘We’re studying Reading, Spelling, Arithmetic, and Penmanship. I got an ‘acceptable’ for Posture, but an ‘unsatisfactory’ for Use of Hankie and Thimble. Mother was kind of unhappy about that.’ ‘Good God,’ he said, ‘It’s worse than I thought.’ This was an intriguing statement, although I didn’t understand it.”

Callie and Granddaddy discuss what she is learning in school, and Granddaddy's comment implies his deep dismay at the gross inadequacy of the school system; the author uses this comment to obliquely critique the severe limitations that women and girls endured during this time period. Callie, who has only ever experienced this limited form of education, does not yet understand her grandfather’s underlying thought, but as the novel progresses, Callie gains a greater understanding of how gender roles dictate many women’s life paths despite their true ambitions, and she resolves to break free of these restrictions no matter the cost.

“They had banded together […] to pull the country out of the morass of superstition and backward thinking in which it floundered after the War Between the States. All of this was heady news of a world far removed from hankies and thimbles, patiently delivered to me under a tree amidst the dowsing bees and nodding wildflowers.”

As Granddaddy explains some of his adventures as a member of the National Geographic Society, it becomes apparent that the world of science has been one that Callie had been denied access to until now. It is also “far different” from the world of domesticity that she has been forced to study. The imagery of the bees and wildflowers listening along highlights the transformative power of nature, for Callie’s interest in the natural world allows her to understand the flaws in gendered thinking and expectations.

“I had basked safe in the knowledge that I was forever his favorite; I took his love as faith and wrapped it around me like a blanket. But this was different. I fundamentally injured him while trying to protect us, to protect him. No, if I were being honest, to protect myself.”

Within the Tate family dynamics, Harry and Callie have always been extremely close, and Callie feels threatened by the introduction of another woman into Harry’s life. This moment shows how complicated the relationship between siblings can be, especially during adolescent years. Callie also shows that she has grown and matured, now understanding the real reason for her actions.

“[H]e could go off on strange and interesting tangents of conversation that I think Mother didn’t always find suitable in polite company. Fossils, for example, and whether their existence disproved the Book of Genesis […] Once I had seen my mother shudder on overhearing him.”

This moment highlights the way that science—specifically the science that challenges concepts introduced in the Bible—was often seen as improper in 19th-century society. The passage also reflects an idea introduced earlier in the novel, implying that people in the south have reverted to traditional beliefs and standards after the Civil War.

“I looked around at my family and felt a great wave of tenderness for them. They were all innocents playing their unsuspecting parts. I wanted to preserve the moment and tuck it away, folded and sealed in my memory. Any second it was about to end.”

As the family prepares to host a party, Callie cannot help but think about the roles that each person is forced to fulfill. She realizes that their family dynamic is defined by the traditions of the south and its gendered expectations. She momentarily embraces this idea, feeling comfort in their shared plight.

“I was his long standing favorite, his own pet, the one he carried pig-a-back since infancy. I was flooded with relief to find myself his pet again.”

Callie’s relationship with her older brother Harry is extremely important to her. Within Callie’s family dynamic, she gains comfort and support from her interactions Harry, and when she is faced with the idea that she might lose this connection, she becomes deeply distraught. After Harry forgives her, she returns to her place at his side. This relationship functions as a form of stability for Callie as she travels the uncharted waters of becoming a woman and maintaining her passion for learning and science.

“I thought it odd that my parents couldn’t understand how Granddaddy could have turned his back on his old life. Ever since he’d told me about his bat, it made perfect sense to me.”

Like Callie, Granddaddy has broken from the social expectations placed upon him by withdrawing from social and religious expectations. While the people who lean toward tradition, like Callie’s mother, are unable to understand this decision, Callie understands it is based on Granddaddy’s bat story. This scene highlights the transformational power of nature, which functions as a means of connection between Granddaddy and Callie.

“By the time I’d clambered up the riverbank, I’d been transformed into an explorer, and the first thing that I’d discovered was another member of my odd species living at the other end of the hall. There was a living treasure under our roof, and none of my brothers could see him.”

Nature is a motif that functions as a catalyst for transformation and helps Callie to understand the world around her. Unsure of reconcile the fact that her interests differ greatly from those of other young women, Callie uses science to help explain her existence. By defining both her and her grandfather as the same species, Callie highlights how special and impactful her relationship with her grandfather is, for he is the only one who truly understands her.

“It was chaotic, it was wild, it was…the most amazing thing I’d ever seen.”

The short, terse statements in this passage highlight Callie’s extreme excitement upon witnessing microorganisms for the first time. As Callie is overcome with joy and curiosity, this scene reflects the motif of nature, which serves as a trigger for transformation and inspires Callie to continue with her scientific explorations.

“I suppose you could touch him and find out. Which raises an interesting point: How far are you willing to go in the name of science? This is something for you to ponder.”

As Callie contemplates touching Petey the caterpillar to discover the texture of his fur, Granddaddy asks Callie an important question. While this question can simply be seen as pertaining to this specific scene, it can also be understood as Granddaddy’s desire to encourage Callie to think about how far she is willing to go in challenging conventional social standards in the name of pursuing her passion.

“Granddaddy told me about the wasp that could opt to be male or female while in the larval stage. I wondered why human children weren’t offered that option in their grub stage, say up through age five. With everything that I had seen about the lives of boys and girls, I would definitely choose to be a boy grub.”

Using her new knowledge of the natural world around her, Callie begins to question the social practices that limit her life. She realizes that if she were able to choose her gender, she would immediately choose to be a boy. This thinking leads Callie to question the social expectations placed upon her as a young woman and awakens her to the many disparities between men and women within southern society.

“There was something gorgeous and mysterious about it, but it was also somewhat revolting if you thought about it too closely. It made me think of Life. And Death.”

As Callie thinks about Petey’s cocoon and transformation, her curiosity grows. Because Callie uses nature as a way to understand the world around her, she tries to apply her knowledge of life and death to what is happening, but she realizes that she doesn’t have enough knowledge to understand. Callie’s curiosity helps her to learn about nature and to process and compartmentalize difficult concepts such as death.

“‘I don’t ever want to hear of you standing in the corner again, Calpurnia. The boys, I can understand at times. But you. Your behavior is a blot on the family name.’ ‘Well,’ I huffed, ‘that’s no fair.’ There was a stunned silence. Whoops.”

After getting into trouble at school, Callie’s mother states her disappointment in Callie, and in doing so, draws Callie’s attention to the glaring double standard for behavior between boys and girls. Callie, who has grown and matured through her scientific knowledge and explorations, pushes back against her mother—and in turn, the gendered social expectations of her society. Her outburst is met with shock, illustrating the depth to which these gendered social norms are readily practiced.

“‘We had to be self-sufficient in the field. If you needed a new sock, you made it yourself.’ […] I thought about this for a while. If soldier boys had learned how to knit, if my grandfather had learned to knit, maybe it wouldn’t kill me to learn.”

As Callie struggles with being forced to focus on her knitting, Granddaddy reveals that he and his regiment had to learn to knit out of necessity. Callie uses the concept of learning for “self-sufficiency” as a way to motivate herself to appease her mother and simultaneously challenge social expectations; she chooses to learn how to knit as a means to care for herself, not to care for others.

“From the kitchen behind us came the homey noises of the grocery being put away. From the darkness came the chitter of some night-flying bird. I stood there for a moment, my whole world hanging in the balance. ‘Calpurnia,’ he said, ‘it’s such a lovely evening. Won’t you join me?’”

This scene in the novel is highly symbolic. As Callie stand in the doorway of her house, she hears the sounds of people putting away pots and pans. This noise is symbolic of her domestic duty as a woman to cook and clean. By contrast, the darkness of the natural world in front of her represents the unknown nature of her future if she decides to pursue science. Her grandfather invites her to sit with him as he enjoys what the evening air has to offer; Callie’s choice to join him represents her decision to defy social standards and pursue science.

“And there we were. A new species. A photograph. And me, his girl.”

In this scene, Callie’s relationship with her grandfather is highlighted by the photo and the discovery of a new species. This moment alludes to a scene earlier in Chapter 8 in which Callie refers to her and her grandfather as being parts of the same species. The photograph solidifies their relationship for Callie.

“Your mama got plans for you, you know that? Just last week she says she wants you to come out. And now this. No, sir. Can’t have a debutante chopping cotton. […] Make you a young lady of society. Instead of a scarecrow.”

After getting into trouble with Viola by doing an experiment in which she harvests some cotton, Callie discusses with Viola her mother’s expectations of her as she grows older. This conversation depicts the way that Callie’s desire to learn science and to conduct experiments is perceived by the traditional society around her. By calling Callie a “scarecrow,” Viola highlights the fact that people will view Callie unfavorably if she continues to pursue science.

“So I didn’t like to talk patterns and recipes and pour tea in the parlor. Did that make me selfish? Did it make me odd? Worst of all, did it make me a disappointment? […] Could I be blamed for my nature? Could the leopard change her posts? And, if so, what were my spots? It all seemed so muddled.”

Callie begins to realize that the expectations of her gender do not fit her identity. This confusion—created by social gender roles and discrimination—forces Callie to question what she knows about herself as her passions starkly conflict with her parents’ view of her as a young woman.

“‘Girls don’t get paid,’ Lamar scoffed, ‘Girls can’t even vote. They don’t get paid. They stay at home.’”

As the family scrambles to harvest their cotton, Callie notices that she is the only one of her siblings who is working and not getting paid. Her brother’s remark highlights the gender roles and discrimination within southern society. This quote is ironic because Texas will later become the first state in the south to provide women with the right to vote in electoral primaries in 1918, only 19 years after the events of the novel occur.

“I was expected to hand over my life to a house, a husband, children. It was intended that I give up my nature studies, my Notebook, my beloved river. […] My life did not lie with the Plant after all. My life was forfeit. Why hadn’t I seen it? I was trapped.”

As Callie overhears her mother discussing her fears about Callie’s future, Callie realizes that she has little say about her own life. While she has found empowerment through science and education—one of the novel’s central themes— Callie now begins to understand that her gender has decided her future for her, and she resents the fact that her parents want her to fulfill the role of a young debutante despite her passion for learning.