I agree that this is THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER. For the
reasons above, and because the beginning of the chapter demonstrates how racism affected
a child.
Dill grew sick in the end of 19 and had to be
escorted out of the courtroom by Scout. Although it was hot, likely stinky, and stuffy,
this is not why Dill grew sick. He was physically troubled by watching Mr. Gilmer treat
Tom Robinson with such disdain and disrespect. I would imagine most children didn't see
many black-white interactions of their parents or caretakers because they were often
interacting with their own kind.
This ill-treatment of a
human being sickened him. The meeting with Mr. Dolphus Raymond and discussion that
ensued proved that perceptions and appearances aren't always what they seem. This is why
what Mr. Gilmer was doing was so wrong. He was treating Tom terribly because he was
black. Mr. Raymond, who loved the black community, demonstrated to the children that
things aren't always what they seem by letting them in on his secret Coke habit. He let
the community believe he drank too much (alcohol) just so that they could justify in
their minds why a white man would want a black woman... especially a rich white man.
This confirmed for Dill that his feelings were well-founded, and encouraged Scout and
Dill to return to the courtroom to see the situation conclude. Had he not intervened, we
wouldn't have seen the narrator finish her experience in the courtroom and would have
received second-hand information.
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