How Is Mr Dolphus Raymond Presented In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill a Prejudice

In To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic novel by Harper Lee, many of the characters adhere to the rigid social structures of America in the early 1900s. Townsfolk hide their true character behind polite guises and do not dare tarnish their reputation. These people view children and other races as their inferiors, subject to blunt opinions and open ridicule. However, one character in particular, Mr. Dolphus Raymond, distances himself from these cultural "norms" and sacrifices a good name for his beliefs. This character possesses a powerful sense of insight about other people despite his seemingly strange behavior. He adheres to his values even though he horrifies the general population by living with "the blacks" and sympathizing with their plight. Mr. Dolphus Raymond exemplifies an upright man of great sympathy, insight, and peculiarities.

Raymond demonstrates his sympathy for victims of a culturally exclusive society. When he discusses the matter with a boy who had been crying, he alludes to the fact that he feels just as upset over the injustices towards black people, but doesn't show it with tears. He understands younger people openly,"…Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think they're people too" (269). On the surface, the quote seems to simply be an attempt to comfort the boy. However, through these words, Mr. Raymond demonstrates his awareness of the tendency of Macomb residents to hold the blacks in a state of disregard. He sympathizes with the African American's plight by acknowledging how poorly they are treated, a shocking admittance for the day. Through defending the victims of Macomb's rampant racism, Mr. Raymond displays his sympathetic