Dill and Scout learn that Dolphus Raymond pretends to drink a lot so people can peg his behavior on drunkenness. He actually just wants to be happy with his significant other and their children. When Scout asks why he would dirty his reputation even more by pretending to be a drunkard, he replies “… it’s mighty helpful to folks… they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live”(228). People cannot understand that Mr. Raymond chooses to live the way he does, so, to avoid rumors and the like, he provides a reason that they can understand, being drunk. That way people will leave him be and he can live a quiet life with his family. Mr. Raymond doesn’t care about what others think, so he sacrifices his reputation for a happy life with his family.
What keeps people from understanding Mr. Raymond's real reason for living the way he does? Is Mr. Raymond a good man?
Dolphus Raymond portrays a character who does not account for racism. Dolphus’ relationship with an African American woman can show courage. His relationship can also connect to Atticus’ circumstance with the Tom Robinson case. Both characters display courage. Harper Lee described courage as, “It's when you know you're licked before you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do" (Lee 128). Dolphus Raymond can be “licked” by racism, however, he “begins anyway” in his path for true love.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Dolphus cares so much about his family that he would act drunk just to live his life with them. Dolphus tells Jem, Scout and Dill this because he belives they will understand. "Because your children and you'll understand" (Lee 228). Dolphus has trust in Jem, Scout and Dill that they won't tell on him so that he can keep having his peaceful life.
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