Dolphus Raymond is introduced as a drunk character, as Jem points out at the beginning of chapter 16. it is also mentioned before the trial that "he owns all one side of the riverbank... he's from a real old family to boot (p. 215)." Raymond seems to be a well off character, however he chooses to sit with the colored people of the town. This confuses Dill. "He likes 'em better'n he likes us, I reckon (p. 214)." While the majority of the Maycomb population do not like the colored people, Raymond is the opposite. From what is mentioned, he seems to dislike the white-skin colored people of Maycomb. This could be because of the way they treat people, isolating a person, and closing in on them.
Raymond shows that even though he is from an old family, and is well off, he doesn't let that change his mind. He believes in what he wants to believe in, and doesn't let his family history and wealth dissuade him. Harper Lee does a good job of distributing the roles of people who support certain beliefs, and people who support something else.
Questions: Do you think Harper Lee will go into more depth with Dolphus Raymond's character? Do you think there is another reason why he prefers to drink out of paper bags? Why does he think opposite from the majority of Maycomb?
Harper Lee will eventually go more into depth with Dolphus Raymond. She will do so because of his unique and different character. Maycomb has a strict social standing. To be normal you cannot have nothing to do with someone black or different. Everytime Scout and Jem meets one of these characters, they start to mature and understand the real adult problems of Maycomb. Since Dolphus Raymond is another one of Maycomb's "Problems" I think he will appear again.
ReplyDeleteWhen Jem explains to Scout that Dolphus Raymond "has been drunk" ever since his fiance killed herself, what does that show? What is that a symbol for?
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ReplyDeleteHarper Lee introduces Dophus Raymond to this novel to show some good in a southern racist town by using the recurring theme of race. Originally from a respected family, engaged to a white woman who shot herself when she found out about his African-American lover, and has biracial kids, Raymond knows and has experienced the cruel world of racism and hatred. He knows his children will never feel like they truly belong somewhere; they are not white enough to fit in with the white folks, and not black enough to be a part of the black community, yet he’s still accepting and kind to them. Similarly, Scout thinks of Mayella as facing the same problems that a mixed child deals with: “white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white (P.170)” By connecting Mayella with Raymond’s kids, it demonstrates that class can be as big of a separator within a community as race.
ReplyDeleteJem and Scout later have a discussion with Uncle Jack, who says that they may have some black ancestors from generations back. Jem states that "'around here once you have one drop of Negro blood, that makes you all black”(P. 165) meaning that even when you are the slightest bit different, people won’t see you as one of them, but instead isolate you into a different group. This reflects what someone who is biracial goes through. The conversation between Scout and Jem is significant because they realize that they themselves may have a “drop of Negro blood,” which makes them more accepting to the black community and less prejudice than most people in Maycomb.
Do you think Jem and Scout are being exposed to the adult world of prejudice, hatred, cruelty etc. at too young of an age? Have you ever felt in a way like a “biracial kid?”(Like not knowing where you belong in your community?)
I think that while Jem is old enough and mature enough to handle the hardships being thrown at him, Scout is still too young. Harper Lee continually reminds the reader that Scout is still a young child. Lee does this in small moments such as the scene where scout uses puppy-dog eyes to get coffee from Calpurnia. While not impulsive or immature, actions like these show the reader that Scout is very much a seven-year-old, and though she is well educated, there is certain maturity you can only gain through age and experience. The trial is forcing Scout to mature too quickly and forcing adult themes upon her that her young brain simply can't handle. She acts much older than she is, but will still probably be shocked by some of the information presented in and around the trial.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Scout's "knothole" moment will be Tom Robinson's trial? What kind of effect will the trial have on the Finch family dynamic?