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You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it (Lee 39). An individual once told me, I stopped explaining myself when I realized people only understand from their level of perception. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee it is evident that numerous characters throughout the book are misjudged and misunderstood for a variety of reasons. Individuals in the town of Maycomb possess prejudiced mindsets, which generate their preconceived opinions about certain characters. As a result, this leads many people in Maycomb to illustrate negative attitudes and retain stereotyped beliefs. This allows the town of Maycomb to not have the desire to actually get to know these misinterpreted, and misconstructed characters symbolically represented as mockingbirds. Three characters in the novel that are misjudged or misunderstood are Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and Dolphus Raymond.
To commence, one of the many characters throughout the novel who is misjudged is Boo Radley. Boo Radley is misjudged and misunderstood in the novel based on rumors around town which have spread. On account of the rumors spread about Boo Radley, he is viewed horribly by people in town. Boo Radley was looked upon as a horrible monster who no one wanted to be near. Calpurnia mummers as she sees Boo There goes the meanest man ever God blew breath into (Lee 13). This quote identifies that Boo Radley in known to be nothing but a monster in the town of Maycomb. Furthermore when asked to give a description of Boo Radley Jem explains that Boo Dines on raw squirrels and cats he could catch, thats why his hands are always bloodstained (Lee 16). furthermore, Jem made Dill aware that if he ever wanted to get himself killed All he had to do was go up and knock on the front door (Lee 16). The fact that Boo Radley is judged based on rumors causes others to treat him like an outsider, as if he is a ghost or as the monster they assume he is. This causes Boo Radley to feel lonely and sense that he does not belong in town. Scout, Dill and Jem start to make up a game competing with each other to see who can get the closest to Boo and they also make plans to lure the monster Boo Radley out of his home. Jem explains to Dill while playing the game that he Cant think of a way to make him come out without him gettin us (Lee 17). This shows that the children treated Boo like he was a prop or a fun joke as if he isnt human but a different species, all to get the monster to come out. Boo Radley is a very reclusive and silent person hence leaving people to believe that the rumors about him are true. Later on in the novel when Mr.Ewell hid in the bushes and attacked Scout and Jem on their way home from pagent, in an attempt to murder them with his knife Boo Radley jumps in and saves both Scout and Jem. Scout tells Mr.Tate Somebody was staggerin around pantin and coughing fit to die & I thought Atticus had come to help us and had got wore out (Lee 362) . Mr.Tate asks scout to explain who it was who saved them and Scout says Why there he is Mr. Tate, he can tell you his name & Hey, Boo (Lee 362). This is when they learned that Boo Radley is not the monster they assumed he was. They learn that Boo Radley is a nice and lonely person who begs for a friend in silence. They come to recognize that Boo cares about them and is nothing but a normal person in the town of Maycomb who is cloistered and stays isolated from others inside his home because of the vicious assumptions made about him. They get to know Boo Radley for who he truly is, they learn that Boo is an alone but kind person who merely begs for a friend in stillness.
Likewise, an additional character in the novel who is misjudged and misunderstood is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is undervalued and receives false impressions simply because he is a black man or as people of the town would call him a negro in the time of slavery in the town of Maycomb. Tom Robinson is blamed for raping Myella Ewells, a white young lady because of the color of his skin though Tom did not commit such acts. Atticus goes to court as Mr.Robinson’s lawyer defending him revealing evidence showcasing Toms innocence but even though large amounts of the evidence prove that Tom Robinson is innocent, Atticus and Tom Robinson do not win the case, simply because of the color of Toms skin. At this time in the town of Maycomb, if the color of your skin was anything but white, this determined whether you have the eligibility to win a court case or not. Atticus Finch explains to Dill after losing the case Well, Dill, after all he is just a negro (Lee 266). As a result of Tom Robinson being misjudged along with being misunderstood he is treated horrendously. Tom Robinson alongside other blacks in the Town of Maycomb were treated as if themselves, their word meant nothing. Due to being misunderstood and misjudged Tom is convicted guilty of the rape on Myella Ewells although he did not commit such an act. Atticus explains to Scout Simply because we were linked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win (Lee 101). Atticus knows that the jury could not take Toms word against the Ewells strictly because of the difference in skin tones. The verdict was already decided in the juror’s minds before the trial had even begun. A white man’s word was accepted over a black man’s word. The Ewells were white therefore their word was always going to be accepted over Tom Robinsons’. Due to being a black male, Tom Robinson is being mistreated in many ways. One of the ways Tom is mistreated for his skin color is by being convicted and put into prison for something he did not do. Tom Robinson receives such mistreatment all from being a black negro who is misunderstood. Many people did not get to know Tom for who he is based off of their stereotypes and preconceived opinions. Tom Robinson is truly an innocent who is viewed by those close to him as a kind, honest man who earned a lot of respect. He remained humble and stood up for what he believed in. Though Mayella scared Tom he was just trying to help her but Myella took advantage of Tom because she knows the acts her father perpetrated would be easy to plant on a black male making him take the fault for her father’s actions. Tom explains that he was just trying to help Myella and that he is innocent numerous times. Tom Robin stated that through everything he Felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more n the rest of em- (Lee 264). Tom had the boldness and confidence as a black man of that time in Maycomb to still feel sorry for Mayella and stop what he was doing to try and help her despite the risks he knows he has on himself.
In addition, a further person in the novel who experiences being misapprehended and judged incorrectly is Dolphus Raymond. In the novel, Dolphus Raymond is misunderstood and misjudged by others because he wants to be. Dolphus Raymond carries around a brown paper sack with straws in it which he drinks from allowing others to view him as an alcoholic and believe that he is always drunk and not in the right state of mind. People of Maycomb believe that Dolphus started drinking after his white fiance killed herself on their wedding day, and is convinced this is why he started drinking. The people in the town also believe that his drinking problem is also what lead to him marrying a black woman and having kids with her while being a white male. After Dill goes over to have a conversation with Dolphus Dill finds out that in Dolphuss bottle it is nothing but Coca-Cola and realizes he was not a drunk but had people believe he was so he would not be judged for being a white man in the town of Maycomb married to a black woman. Dolphus tells Dill and Scout that he knows it is not right but if the town thinks he is an alcoholic it would seem easier for them to understand his lifestyle. Dolphus whispers to Dill and Scout You little folks wont tell on me now, will you? Itd ruin my reputation if you did (Lee 268). Mr.Dolphus goes on to disclose that what he is doing is not honest but its mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, Im not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because thats the way I want to live & I try to give em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason (Lee 268). Dolphus states that he makes people in the town believe that he is always drunk and has a drinking problem which is why he married and had kids with black women rather than him being honest and not faking being drunk for the reason that he believes that no one in town could ever understand that he married and had kids with a black woman because he simply wants to. On account of Dolphus being misjudged and misunderstood for being a white male alcoholic who married a black woman, it is recognized that Dolphus is treated differently because of this. Rather than the town of Maycomb shaming Dolphus for the decisions he decides to make in his life, the town shows Dolphus a sense of sympathy. The individuals in town feel bad for him and think that he is the way he is because of his alcohol addiction. Dolphus explains that he is treated less harshly due to his case of being misunderstood and misjudged. Dolphus confesses Folks find it easier to understand if you give them a reason for it. 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 cant help himself. That’s why he lives the way he does& It ain’t honest but it’s mighty helpful (Lee 268). Dolphuss true colors were shown when he goes on to reason by saying 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 (Lee 269). Dolphus tells Dill and Scout Some folks dont – like the way I live. Now I would say to hell with em, I don’t care if they dont like it (Lee 268). Dolphus begins to convey to Scout and Dill who he truly is and how he truly feels, he explains to them that he does this to make it easier for the town of Maycomb to comprehend the way he lives. Dolphus is truly an ordinary individual who just wants to live with his bi-racial children and black wife happily in the town of Maycomb.
Consequently, it is recognized that various characters throughout the novel are misjudged and misunderstood. Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Dolphus Raymond are three characters in the novel who are treated differently due to being misjudged and misunderstood. They are portrayed and recognized as people they truly are not. It is acknowledged that the worst distance between two people or even a town, is a misunderstanding. This is why those in the novel who was misjudged and misunderstood were all distant from the town in different ways. Dolphus Raymond was looked upon as an alcoholic and was treated with pity because of it, when all he wanted to do was live in peace with his wife and children. While Boo being portrayed as a monster leads to him being treated as a ghost or some type of creature causing him to become lonely when in reality he is caring and wants to make friends and Lastly, Tom Robinson who was perceived as a black male rapist was treated unfairly along with disgracefully which resulted in him being presumed guilty for an act he did not commit when all he wanted was the best for others. It is noticed that throughout this novel an established belief of a preconceived and stubborn opinion in Maycomb are as pure as having no opinions at all. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee confirms and conveys that everyone highlights who you appear to be, while few experience what you really are.
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