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Post by kaylagarcia on Jul 7, 2016 20:55:51 GMT
In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, some of the minor characters serve very significant roles in terms of symbolism. One of these minor but powerful characters is Mr. Dolphus Raymond. He is only mentioned once but his lines during that time are substantial. We learn that he is a wealthy white man who lives with his black wife and mixed children. His way of life is confusing to the citizens of Maycomb so he pretends to be drunk as an explanation for his behavior. When Scout and Dill speak with him they learn some of the unfair ways of the white society. When Dill and Scout leave the trial to cry, he tells the children to, "cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people too" (Lee 269). He provides the children with just enough information on the hypocrisy of the white society in order for them to understand his preference of living among the colored folks. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is just one example of a minor character that made a considerable impact on the novel and Scout's life.
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Post by patricia on Jul 15, 2016 22:36:00 GMT
Mr. Dolphus Raymond is telling Dill and Scout "cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to that they're people too." If Mr. Dolphus Raymond is so into telling the children that it's wrong for white people to give hell to black people, don't you think it's a little hypocritical of him to point the finger when he pretends to be drunk all the time for an explanation of his behavior?
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isaacthompson
New Member
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ― Harper Lee
Posts: 11 
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Post by isaacthompson on Jul 23, 2016 13:31:58 GMT
Mr. Raymond shows that there can be links between these two seemingly segregated societies, white and black. I believe Mr. Raymond pretends to be a drunk just because he realizes the faults of the white community, and honestly, doesn't want to talk to them. What Mr. Raymond should have realized is that the black community has faults too. The scene in the black church where the only need one dime, and NOBODY will give one up is ridiculous. Sure, this book shows mostly faults of the white society, but the black society most likely has faults that have not been shown.
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Post by tiffanyjacquez on Jul 27, 2016 19:20:32 GMT
I agree with your premise relating to the importance of minor characters. Harper Lee often utilizes their minor roles for emphasis and thematic reasons. Mr. Dolphus Raymond offers a more pessimistic view of society; he claims the dark and prejudiced aspects of society are the true underlying bodies of a functioning civilization: "You haven't seen enough of the world yet. You haven't even seen this town, but all you gotta do is step back inside the courthouse" (Chapter 20, pg. 269). Mr. Raymond never explains or attempts to rationalize his sexual preferences, and neither does the white community explain their own preference regarding romantic pursuits (a hypocrisy evidently immune to awareness); however, unlike others, Mr. Raymond does not enforce his inclinations upon anyone. Despite enduring persecution and animosity for his sexual preferences, he passively creates excuses for the white community's contempt towards his own life choices. Raymond asserts, "I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey--that's why he won't change his ways. He can't help himself" (Chapter 20, pg. 268). However, unbeknownst to him he does not aid or constructively connect the two communities (as Calpurnia and Reverend Sykes do), and instead contributes to the system by permitting people to dismiss his insurgent behavior as tolerable but an unnatural misdemeanor. This is a case where inaction and indifference actively damages human life (his own).
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Post by beccarugg on Aug 5, 2016 21:39:05 GMT
I agree with this, I think that minor characters do play a huge roll in the novel, and it would not be nearly the same without them. I wonder about Tom Robinson, and the roll that he plays in the book. Atticus is a major advocate for him, and that affects Scout and Jem. They are bullied for who their father believes in, and they grow up in a different less racist environment than many of the others who live in Maycomb. So although he is a minor character I think that he plays a major roll.
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Post by michaelamiles on Aug 15, 2016 4:03:47 GMT
I definently agree with you with people such as Mr.Avery they all play small parts in the book at first but then at least for me I realized that they ended up contrubuting about 50-25% of the story.
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Post by tsharman on Aug 16, 2016 15:04:05 GMT
Mr. Raymond is another example of a person who, while discriminated against, still has a genuinely kind personality. I think that Lee uses him as another example of someone suffers from misunderstanding. He would not have to "give 'em a reason" for his strange behavior if the people of Maycomb did not judge his ways (Lee 268).
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Post by keelinreder on Aug 16, 2016 20:05:56 GMT
The minor characters do play a big role in this novel. Without these minor characters, the story could be different. These characters give input and that helps the reader understand the novel better and how their role plays a big part.
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