Why does Mr Raymond want people to think he's a drunk?

Answer 1

If my understanding of the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, is correct, then the reason Mr. Raymond wants people to think he is a drunk so he will not need to explain his love of Black People to the other White People.

Answer 2

Mr. Raymond pretends to be a drunk to give people a reason for his unconventional behavior and to distance himself from the prejudiced attitudes of the town towards his association with a black woman. It allows him to protect himself and his family from the judgment and scrutiny of others.

Answer 3

Mr Dolphus Raymond was a mysterious and an interesting character in To Kill A Mockingbird; he is portrayed to show how the citizens of Maycomb tried to fit into society. Mr. Raymond lives with the blacks and has several biracial children. When he comes to town he weaves a little and drinks out of a paper bag giving the appearance of drunkenness.

In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee does not elaborately describe the physical traits of Mr. Raymond except to say that he was a white man. Also when he is in town he staggers about feigning drunkenness. Scout and Jem saw how "Mr. Dolphus Raymond lurched by on his thoroughbred. 'Don't see how he stays in the saddle,' murmured Jem. 'How c'n you stand to get drunk 'fore eight in the morning?'" (Lee, 211)

Moreover Mr. Raymond, although he was quite rich and came from a good background, was not well regarded. Dill observes that "'he doesn't look like trash,'" and Jem says "'he's not, he owns all one side of the riverbank down there, and he's from a real old family to boot.'"(Lee, 215) Even Atticus, who is usually very fair, didn't seem to like Mr. Raymond. Scout is slightly hesitant of him "as Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man [she] accepted his invitation reluctantly, but [she] followed Dill. Somehow, [she] didn't think Atticus would like it if [they] became friendly with Mr. Raymond, and [she] knew Aunt Alexandra wouldn't." (Lee, 267) Mr. Raymond's lifestyle shows his preference to blacks. "'Why's he sittin' with the colored folks?' 'Always does. He likes 'em better'n he likes us, I reckon. Lives by himself way down near the county line. He's got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillum.'"(214) He is one of the few whites in Maycomb county who doesn't seem to mind the black people. Mr. Raymond acts as a black and also conforms to their society rules. For "in the far corner of the square, the negroes sat quietly in the sun [...] Mr. Dolphus Raymond sat with them."(214) This shows Mr. Raymond's social attachment to the blacks; here he doesn't seem to care what whites think about for after all he is only fulfilling what others expect of him.

Mr. Raymond seems to like children and he trusts them with his secret. Scout wonders "why had he entrusted us with his deepest secret? I asked him why. 'Because you're children and you can understand it,' he said, 'and because I heard that one -' He jerked his head at Dill: 'things haven't caught up with that one's instinct yet. Let him get a little older and he won't get sick and cry. Maybe things will strike him as being - not quite right, say, but he won't cry, not when he gets a few years on him.' 'Cry about what, Mr. Raymond?' Dill's maleness was beginning to assert itself. 'Cry about the simple [things] people [do to] other people - without even thinking.'"(Lee, 267) And although he may be unapproachable to the adult whites he was kind to Dill and says "come on round here, son, I got something that'll settle your stomach". (267) Mr. Raymond's way of life and his feigned drunkenness shows how he tries to make a compromise in order to still fit into Maycomb's society.

I think Mr. Dolphus Raymond is an interesting character and shows some of the reality of human prejudice and his personal solutions to them. He adds detail and meaning in To Kill A Mockingbird because of his view of the world, his lifestyle and beliefs.

Answer 4

he says he pretends to be drunk by drinking coca cola out of a paper bag to give the white people a reason for his life style but really he likes blacks better

Answer 5

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