Dolphus Raymond is a white man who is in a relationship with a black woman and has children with her.
In Alabama in the thirties, it was against the law for a white man and black woman to be married. This did not stop Dolphus Raymond. He was from a good family, but made himself an outcast in Maycomb by having an interracial family.
“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 chillun. Show you some of ’em if we see ‘em.” (Ch. 16)
Dolphus Raymond spends most of his time pretending to be drunk. He carries a sack and people assume he is drinking liquor. The children realize he is actually drinking Coca-cola. Raymond is as sober as anyone else. He is just trying to help others understand his actions. He knows that they won’t appreciate that he loves his wife and children, so he lets them think he is an alcoholic.
During the trial, Raymond comforts Dill and the other children. Dill in particular is very upset about the way Tom Robinson is being treated disrespectfully by Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor. Raymond tells him that this is the way things are, even though it isn’t right. He says when Dill is older he won’t cy.
“Cry about what, Mr. Raymond?” Dill’s maleness was beginning to assert itself.
“Cry about the simple hell people give other people—without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people, too.” (Ch. 20)
Dolphus Raymond is an example of the fact that not all Maycomb’s citizens are unrepentant racists. He has a unique approach to dealing with it, but it keeps him apart from society. Scout realizes that it is a privilege of his class that people accept the way he is.
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