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Misleading Appearances In To Kill A Mockingbird

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The way one may look is not always the way one may act. The concept that looks can be deceiving is exemplified with Arthur (Boo) Radley, Dolphus Raymond and Mrs. Dubose in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Although perceived as a drunk, a racist and a phantom, these characteristics do not make up that person as a whole. Because of the prejudice and bias in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930s, the appearances of these people are deceptive to everyone around them. However, it is not just appearances that give misleading impressions, it is also how people present themselves to society. Living in a community full of insufficient, racist opinions and tainted values will make a person see a situation from one point of view, not fully taking into consideration the other points of views involved. Mrs. Dubose clearly illustrates this when Scout and Jem, the neighborhood …show more content…

Dubose, Dolphus Raymond’s drinking issue is visible to everyone. Dolphus Raymond portrays himself as one of the town drunks, where he constantly displays his drinking issue. This is proven when Jem acknowledges, “He’s got a Co-Cola bottle full of whiskey in there. That’s so’s not to upset the ladies. You’ll see him sip it all afternoon, he’ll step out for a while and fill it back up” even though everyone within Maycomb are aware of Dolphus Raymond’s whiskey problem, nobody intends to question him on it (Lee 214). As the community notices Dolphus Raymond’s behavior, they choose to ignore it because, “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” and with this choice comes the standard of not having to live up to anyone’s expectations (Lee 268). Dolphus Raymond on the surface is a drunk who cannot change his ways, yet Dolphus Raymond as a whole is somebody who cannot and will not live up to anyone’s

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