The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2009

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-7

Chapters 8-14

Chapters 15-21

Chapters 22-28

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

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Themes

Empowering Women Through Science and Education

Throughout the novel, Kelly examines the ways in which science and education have empowered women throughout history. Set in the final year of the 19th century, the narrative follows a young woman named Calpurnia Tate, who has a passion for science and learning. Calpurnia finds herself constantly at odds with what her family and society have decided is acceptable for a young woman to know and do. While this is a major source of conflict and anxiety for Calpurnia, she refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a “girl scientist.”

From the beginning of the novel, Calpurnia’s intelligence and curiosity separate her from other young women in the small town of Fentress, Texas. Calpurnia’s family supports the traditional gender roles that limit a woman’s activities to the household. However, Calpurnia’s interest in science and the natural world compel her to seek out new knowledge and opportunities to learn. Her passion for natural science empowers her to act upon her curiosity, leading her to seek information from her elusive grandfather. Calpurnia’s grandfather is a naturalist, and because he sees the potential within Calpurnia, he takes her under his wing and teaches her many things that are deemed unbecoming for a woman to know within this traditional society. When he discovers that Calpurnia is unaware of the female scientists in the world, he tells her about them, encouraging her ambitions to join their ranks one day. Afterward, Calpurnia remarks that her perspective had been completely changed and she felt empowered because she “had learned that there were others of [her] kind out there” (258), which pushed her to continue pursuing her dreams of becoming a scientist when everything had begun to feel hopeless.

As Calpurnia dives more deeply into the world of science, she finds herself facing numerous challenges and obstacles due to her gender. In a time in which women are expected to focus on marriage and their domestic duties, Calpurnia’s passion for science is met with much skepticism from her brothers and resistance from her mother. Despite these challenges, Calpurnia finds the strength within herself to keep learning and to prove everyone wrong. Her grandfather, aware of the struggles that her gender will cause her, asks her an important question: “How far are you willing to go in the name of science?” (109). This query foreshadows the struggles that she will face, but by embracing her love for science, Calpurnia finds that she can defy social expectations and pursue a more fulfilling and meaningful future. Her journey functions as a powerful example of how women have often overcome great social barriers to achieve their goals through education and the empowerment that it provides.

This theme is further underscored by the historical context of the novel. The story is set during a time of significant social change and scientific advancement. The fight for women’s rights was on the rise; women gained partial suffrage in Texas in 1918, only 20 years after the novel is set (Taylor, Elizabeth A. “Woman Suffrage.” Texas State Historical Association, 24 Aug. 2023). Scientific innovations inspired social change as modernization began to overtake traditional social beliefs about women’s roles. By showcasing Calpurnia’s determination to pursue her dreams despite the resistance that she faces, the novel challenges traditional gender roles and celebrates women who enter scientific fields. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is designed to explore the theme of women's empowerment through science and education. Through Calpurnia’s character and subsequent development, Kelly emphasizes the importance of pursuing dreams, breaking down barriers, and striving for excellence in the face of adversity. Calpurnia's story serves highlights the power of education to empower women to achieve their full potential.

The Challenges of Defying Social Expectations

Throughout the novel, Calpurnia faces numerous challenges as she defies traditional gender roles to pursue her love of natural science. Set in a small Texas town during the final year of the 19th century, the novel explores the challenges that come with defying social expectations during a time in which women were expected to prioritize domestic duties over intellectual pursuits. One of the primary challenges that Calpurnia faces is the pressure to give up her pursuit of science and conform to her family’s more traditional expectations. Throughout the story, Calpurnia’s family tries to shift her focus away from her scientific endeavors with her grandfather, stressing the importance of learning domestic skills like cooking and knitting. However, Calpurnia has a curious mind and a passion for the natural world and finds herself constantly at odds with the expectations placed upon her by her family and society as a whole. As she tries to balance her passion with her familial duty, Calpurnia feels as though her life is not her own to decide; her parents have the power to force her to come out to society as a debutante and arrange her marriage to a young man of high society. Faced with these pressures, she wonders about her place within the world and questions these highly limiting societal norms, asking herself, “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?” (192-93), and this frenzied contemplation highlights the confusion and anxiety caused by her parents’ attempts to make her conform to existing social conventions. While she feels hopeless under the constant pressure of what her future holds, her love for science pushes her to defy these expectations.

Calpurnia, who is the only daughter in a family of six boys, faces a lack of support and understanding from those closest to her. While her grandfather, a naturalist of his own, encourages and helps her with her scientific pursuits, her parents and siblings are reluctant to encourage such blatantly defiant behavior. Calpurnia’s mother, while having good intentions, becomes the main antagonist of the novel due to her explicit dislike of Calpurnia’s dreams and intentions. Her mother treats her differently than her brothers, something that Calpurnia later directly addresses. Calpurnia’s mother functions as the perfect feminine ideal within this traditional southern society, and when her beliefs and ideologies clash with Calpurnia’s unconventional desires, she attempts to correct her daughter’s behavior by forcing Calpurnia to spend less time with her grandfather and more time cooking and knitting. Calpurnia’s continued interest in studying the natural world and conducting experiments is met with disapproval, leading her to feel alienated from her family and frustrated by their lack of consideration. Despite this resistance from her family, Calpurnia finds the strength to continue her pursuit of her scientific passions, even though it creates tension within her relationships to her family members.

Despite the challenges she faces throughout the novel, Calpurnia’s journey is filled with moments of self-discovery and empowerment that stand as a testament to her strength of her character. Calpurnia’s unwavering commitment to science and her refusal to conform to traditional social roles makes her a role model for young women everywhere. Her story therefore functions as a reminder that it is possible to defy social expectations and pursue one's dreams even in the face of adversity and disapproval.

Family Dynamics in the Late 19th Century

Kelly explores the dynamics of family relationships within a historical context to depict both positive and negative aspects of family dynamics, especially when it comes to a person's ability to achieve their aspirations. As the novel examines the complex dynamics of the Tate family’s interactions in the late 19th century, the narrative interweaves historical context to provide extensive insights into the interplay of family bonds, social expectations, and personal growth. Calpurnia's various family relationships play a prominent role in her character growth and act as the driving conflict in the story. Each of these relationships is characterized by its own unique dynamic and complexities. For example, Calpurnia’s relationship with her grandfather, Walter Tate, inspires her thirst for knowledge and her passion for science. Together, the pair share a love for the natural world and form a deep connection that transcends social norms. Their relationship is further strengthened by the mutual discovery of a mutant plant; this new species symbolizes the alienation that both Calpurnia and her grandfather feel due to their passion for science, highlighting the transformative power of familial support and understanding. Calpurnia’s relationship with her grandfather opens the door for her scientific inquiry to grow and blossom despite her family’s disapproval and she ultimately gains the courage to openly defy their restrictive social expectations.

Conversely, Calpurnia’s relationship with her parents and siblings are marked by tension and confusion, reflecting the challenges of navigating familial expectations and social pressures. As the only daughter in the family, Calpurnia struggles to assert her independence in the post-Civil War society that has fallen back into traditional beliefs of gender roles and conformity. Calpurnia’s passion for science and her lack of interest in traditionally “feminine” tasks creates friction within her family, causing her immense anxiety. For example, Calpurnia’s relationship with her parents is strained when she discovers their plans for her to become a debutante and marry a wealthy young man instead of pursuing her goal of attending university and becoming a scientist. Devastated by this realization, Calpurnia states:

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 (220).

This lament displays her dismay at being forced into a life that she does not want. However, as Calpurnia’s mother tries to force her into learning how to become a wife and mother, Calpurnia defies her mother by spending all of her free time with her grandfather in mutual scientific pursuits. Additionally, Calpurnia’s relationships with her siblings offer both comfort and frustration as each brother has a different definition of what Calpurnia should be doing. These conflicts test the family’s bonds and force everyone to rethink the social expectations that they have been blindly following. The novel delves into the ways in which family dynamics shape identity and influence individual choices, highlighting the importance of communication, empathy, and mutual respect in fostering healthy and supportive relationships.

Written against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world filled with scientific discovery and modernization, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate offers a nuanced portrayal of family life in the late 19th century, capturing the joys, struggles, and triumphs of growing up in a time of great transformation. Through Calpurnia’s journey to pursue her passion, the author examines the power of family ties, the resilience of human spirit, and the timeless quest for compassion and understanding from loved ones.