In court, Dolphus Raymond, a spectator is described in chapter 16. Harper Lee chooses to characterize him because he represents the future. When Scout is describing the people who are in the court, she observes that the court is segregated; black people on one side and whites on the other. As she spans the room she spots Dolphus, and says: “Why’s he sitting with the colored folks?” “Always does. He likes ’em better’n he likes us, I rekon. He lives by himself way down near the county line. He’s got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun”(214) At this time in history, blacks and whites had nothing to do with each other. This passage is an example of how a forward thinker Harper Lee was. Dolphus Raymond represents the future because he is a white man sitting with the blacks and the blacks accept him for who he is. Dolphus represents the “light” too, he represents the light like Atticus because he understands that Blacks are equally human beings too. Harper Lee specifically characterizes him in this specific chapter to help show a man, like Atticus who is different in the Maycomb community.
How do you think Maycomb sees Dolphus? Do you think that he is treated the same way as Atticus? Why or why not? Do you think that Maycomb whites are all one sided towards that case, or do you think that there are some people like Atticus and Dolphus who support Tom Robinson?
Dolphus is not treated the same way as Atticus. Dolphus and Atticus are on different levels. To the town of Maycomb, Dolphus is just a weird outcast. Atticus, however, "defends n******," which pretty much is a total betrayal of the whites in Maycomb. To them, Atticus might as well be Black.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Atticus has the power to change anyone in Maycomb County? Who do you think will win the court case? If Tom Robinson wins, do you think it will change how people think about race, or will it make them angrier?
The whites are definitely one-sided towards the case. They dislike black people, and they dislike Atticus for defending a black person. By convicting Tom they would be getting two people who they are angry with at one time. Based on Maycomb's reputation Tom could be convicted even if they didn't believe he was guilty. Even if Atticus where to make a good case he couldn't win unless he changed people's opinions of black before the jury reached a verdict. If he change Maycomb's opinion of blacks then they would have no reason to be angry at Tom for going free. However, the odds of Atticus changing an entire town is pretty small. In order to get Tom free the jury would have to be more angry will Mayella for kissing a black man than Tom for being black. If they viewed Mayella as a traitor they could attempt to try and hurt her even if it meant letting Tom go. Atticus is viewed as a traitor and Dolphus is viewed as another one of the black men. By taking a stand Atticus has put himself in dangerous territory. If Atticus makes one false move people could try to stop him by force.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Atticus or Tom willed be harmed? How will people react to hearing Tom's side of the story? If they believe Tom do you think Mayella will be punished for kissing a black man?
I believe that the town sees Atticus in a much different light than they see Dolphus. Almost everyone seemed to respect Atticus until he began defending Tom Robinson, where as Dolphus has always preferred black people to whites. The town has always viewed him as a freak and an out cast, which may or may not make it easier on him than it is on Atticus to be disliked by the town.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex that Atticus and Dolphus are held in a completely different part of the mind. However, I do not believe that it would make it easier on him than Atticus. Dolphus is a complete extreme, he is a white man that loves blacks in an environment where there is huge amounts of segregation. If one is incredibly strange for a long time, it won't soften any blows. If anything, it would make people harsher to him because those that live in the town would wonder why he hasn't conformed yet.
DeleteDo you think that Dolphus will change his views towards blacks?