"So it took an eight year old to bring em' to their senses, didn't it?"
"That proves something-that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they are still human."
Atticus presents an interesting perspective regarding the characteristics which are attributed to being human. He believes that just because one is human they are capable of remorse, kindness, and open to change. However, as can be seen in the intentions of the mob before, humans do not always display such traits. Is it only through children, and those not yet fully plagued by societies lessons that humanity can truly be seen? Yes, sometimes children seem to put things of menial value over things that are hugely significant, but we also find that children are the most primed to love, cherish, and value life. This can be seem through Dill at the courthouse, even though Tom Robinson was African American Dill still felt that he was being mistreated as a human, even though he was being put through circumstances often suffered through by African Americans. This idea is furthered by Raymond's declaration that in a few years the mistreatment Dill responded to would no longer bother him in the slightest as society would have impressed its values on him and he would turn out to be as all the other white people in Maycomb; racist and blind to truth.
Do you think Dill's apparent lack of racist/prejudice thought may be attributed to the influence of the Finch family on him?
ReplyDeleteThe Finch family could have some influence on Dill, I suppose, however, for a majority of the year he is not living in Maycomb with Miss Rachel, but rather in different foster homes. Perhaps, if not attributed to his youth (as Isabelle argues it is attributed to humanity itself) Dill's lack of prejudice could be attributed to his own personal knowledge as to what it is like to suffer. Being a foster child can be a hard lifestyle, you never feel wanted, so maybe because of his experiences Dill can relate to the Blacks as he has "walked around in their shoes" just a little bit more than the rest of Maycomb, explaining his sympathy.
DeleteRachel, I agree with you, although I believe that the statement was less about the power of children and more about the power of humanity. Monique, isn't it true that Dill spends most of his time outside of Maycomb? I can't remember where he does live during the school year, but that place may have had more of an influence on his values.
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