TKAM Section 3 Harneet Kaur

Mr. Raymond states, "I try to give em reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto something."  This quote indicates certain characterisitics about the society people live in. Whether it may gossip of some sort or talking about another person's life people tend to justify the actions of other people. If there is no justification often time people will create a justification for someone's actions. Mr.Raymond who may appear like a minor character actually explores the big issues in society through his actions. When Dill discovered that what Raymond was drinking Coca Cola not whiskey he immediately stated that telling a lie was not being honest. But Raymond later explains that giving people a reason for his actions in his life such as sitting with the colored individuals was something he had to do. People would not believe that he was sitting with the colored people because he had a good heart and good intentions. When Raymond indirectly gives society a reason such as drinking whiskey people are under the impression that he is in the clutches of whiskey which gives other people justification for his actions. Raymond used this tactic to stay away from the drama that society can invoke if there was no justification. With this act Raymond has made himself distant from the commotion and tries to live a life away from the drama.