Scout and Dill learn that Dolphus Raymond is a good guy who gives the town a reason for why he does what he does so they can blame it on something. It reveals that he is very different from how he is viewed. The text says “As Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man, I accepted his invitation reluctantly…” (Lee 267). He’s viewed in Maycomb as being a drunk, who has many kids with black women. But really he pretends to be drunk, “-you mean why do I pretend? Well, it's very simple,’ he said. ‘Some folks don’t-like the way I live... I try to give them a reason. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.”(Lee 268). The people in Maycomb, can’t believe that someone in their right mind, can’t accept that black people have lesser value than whites and that a white man would purposely have children with a black women. Mr. Raymond makes their live easier by giving them an idea about him, and secluding himself from the town. Letting people believe he’s a drunk, supports their idea that the only reason he believes what he does is because he’s under the influence of alcohol. This shows that Mr. Raymond has a good character and doesn’t really care about how he is viewed by the town.
I completely agree with what you said about how Dolphus Raymond is seen as a drunk who does not fit into society, and how Scout and Dill are suddenly seeing a new side of him. Mr. Raymond even tells the kids his biggest secret, the fact that he pretends to be drunk so that people can say that he won't change his ways because he is drunk. In chapter 20, he explains why he trusted them with his secret, "Because you're children and you can understand it"(Lee 268). Scout and Dill, because they are still young, can think more openly and haven't experienced as much of the segregation that is happening around them as adults have. Mr. Raymond, even though the kids made sure to stay clear of him earlier, find that he has a lot to say, and has entrusted them with his biggest secret.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both points about Dolphus Raymond and how he is viewed by society. He opens up to Scout and Dill because they are children and will still be curious to meet someone despite warnings from parents. When Dolphus Raymond is talking about how Dill reacted he said; "cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people, too." (Lee 20) The children may not have experienced as much segregation, but this trial has opened their eyes to it. That may be another reason why Mr. Raymond spends more time with black people because they are on the other side of the segregation and have more sympathy for each other.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Mr. Dolphus uses his drinking to try to protect his children from racism. If he presented himself as likable then the people of Maycomb would have to admit that they hate him because he has an interracial relationship. It's stated in the quote you used it's stated that he uses his drunkenness as a scapegoat ("'-you mean why do I pretend? Well, it's very simple,’ he said. ‘Some folks don’t-like the way I live... I try to give them a reason. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.'”(Lee 268)).
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Dolphus Raymond uses alcohol as an excuse to the town for his behavior and his beliefs. Because he lives with an African-American woman, and he is a father of interracial children, he gets little respect from the people of Maycomb. Mr. Raymond fakes being drunk so people won't pester him about the way he is living his life. He sees the bad in racism, which is why to him it is acceptable to live with an African-American woman. Although even though he sees this wrong in racism, as in the trial against Tom Robinson and the judgement to him by white people, unlike Atticus he doesn't stand up for what he believes is right.
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DeleteI agree with you that Scout and Dill suddenly sees a new side of Dolphus Raymond, and has never seen someone act so peculiar before. Scout begins to understand the intentions oh Mr. Raymond by being able to use an excuse of drinking for his actions. As Mr. Raymond talks to the children, he says, "I live like I do because that's the way I want to live"(Lee 268). Some people sometimes think that other people live the way they want to live not because of their choice but from other reasons. Mr. Raymond uses alcohol to make a reason why he made his choices in life and because he does not want to stand up for his actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Mr. Dolphus Raymond uses alcohol so that the town will have a reason to believe that he likes African-Americans. He already doesn't get that much love from the people of Maycomb just because he is involved with an African-American woman, so he needs an excuse to have people not criticize him. He is a very kind un-racist man who appreciates Blacks more than he does to Whites.
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