Chattahoochee River
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
TKAM Section 3 - Keely Ryan
After the prosecution questions Tom, they ask him about his previous conviction for disorderly conduct. The prosecution also asks Tom about why he was always helping out Mayella and what his motives were. Dill finds the prosecutors attitude to Tom so upsetting that he and Scout leave the courtroom, the vibe at this point of the story was irksome and I understand why Scout and Tom left the courtroom. Eventually, Dolphous Raymond calls over Scout and Dill and he says that he has something that will help Dill's stomach. He gives Dill a sip of the drink in his paper bag, which the town has always believed to be alcohol. It turns out to be Coca-Cola, which surprises the children. Dolphous explains that he leads the town to believe that he is a drunk so that they have a reason to dislike him. I thought this part was peculiar because I didn't understand why Dolphous would want to have the reputation as a drunk and so people would dislike him. It lead me to question his motives and see how he continues throughout the closing of the story.
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Keely, I also thought it strange he wanted to publicly be seen as a drunk. But, if I recall correctly, he has children by several different African American women. He comes from an old, rich, white family and the fact that he's had children with non-whites is unsettling for the time, and would be especially so for Maycomb. Maycombites are extremely resistant to change in social hierarchy and a man that comes from a powerful family that chooses to be with non-whites sexually is seen as wrong or immoral. Him being a drunk is like an excuse, or a pass in a way, that allows him to skirt around societal expectations. He can do what he wants with his personal life while not being held to the same public scrutiny if he were sober and "in his right mind."
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the insight behind this comment. I didn't take into consideration the possibility that the motives for his actions are to cover up his "immorality". That makes complete sense when you put it like that, I definitely think that now his "drunkenness" is served for him to be able to get away with anything.
DeleteI thought that maybe Doglous lets the people of Maycomb believe it's alcohol and acts drunk to put them at ease and give them a reason to understand the way he is. He knows they won't understand why he lives as he does, so by pretending he is drunk, he makes life easier for himself.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. I don't really know why Dolphous wants to be seen/known in that way. I agree with Katie as well, in that Dolphous uses it as an excuse in front of his reality. Although, if he were to tell everyone that he isn't a binge drinker, I feel like the people of Maycomb will still dislike him because he is a fraud, and wouldn't change their perceptions regardless.
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