To Kill a Mockingbird Literary Analysis Essay Example

Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Dubose: Behind Closed Doors People are not always what they appear to be, but others often judge them by the way they look. The same can be said for two characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Mr. Dolphus Raymond and Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. Mr. Raymond is a known recluse in the town’s society. Because of his alleged “drinking problems” and half-black, half-white children, he is not accepted by the people of Maycomb. Mrs. Dubose is also not accepted because of her unknown morphine addiction which causes her to be unreasonable most of the time. Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Dubose are both outcasts in Maycomb because society refuses to accept them. Mr. Raymond is a wealthy white man in To Kill A Mockingbird. As an alleged alcoholic who lives with his black mistress and half-black, half-white children, Mr. Raymond pretends to be a drunk so that the citizens of Maycomb have an explanation for his behavior. While in reality, he is simple jaded by the hypocrisy and racism of Maycomb’s white society and prefers living with blacks. When he says, “Some folks don’t like the way I live. Now I could say the hell with 'em, I don't care if they don't like it. I do say I don't care if they don't like it, right enough - but I don't say the hell with 'em, see” (Lee 169). He is saying that, because people don’t agree with his way of thinking, he could either remain “sober” and have to deal with people judging him or he could pretend to be drunk and avoid people’s scorn altogether. “I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey-that's why he won't change his ways. He can't help himself, that's why he lives the way he does” (Lee 169). Mrs. Dubose is Scout and Jem’s neighbor. She is an elderly, ill-tempered, racist woman and although Jem believes that Mrs.