Reading Response #6

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating (Lee 228). I think that this moment was important because it changes the point of view on Scout on how she views the community. She describes Mr. Raymond at the begging of the chapter as an "evil man" because of how he has mixed children. It was not normal at this time for people to have mixed children because it was socially accepted yet. But Scout learned a lot from him because this moment taught her that not all people are bad and maybe this will help Scout understand the African American community more. I was very surprised to here that Tom Robinson was guilty. "Why don't you tell the truth, didn't Bob Ewell beat you up?" (Lee 213). Leading up to this moment Atticus already had good evidence on how Mr. Ewell was a lefty and how the hand prints described on Mayella were from a left hand dominant person. That its self is already a lot of evidence to make me think that the trial was over. But when he asked Mayella all these questions and was very nervous and I could tell she was lying because she kept stuttering, not answering questions, and changing up her story which had me certain the Tom Robinson was not guilty. Lee did a great job getting the reader to think that Atticus has done it and shown that Mr. Ewell was the bad man here but now that we found out the Tom is guilty that changes the whole story and plot going on.  

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating. I had never encountered a being who deliberately perpetrated fraud against himself. But why had he entrusted us with his deepest secret?"(Lee 228) I think this is a good quote because it changes Scout's point of view of Mr. Raymond but it also gives us a point of view of how the black and white community reacts with each other. Mr. Raymond has put up a front that he is just a grumpy drunk and so that's what most whites in the community believe and that is what the children are taught to believe. I think he is telling them this secret because kids are less biased and have such a more open mind than adults do. I think it was more important for us to follow Scout and Dill because they learn more and more about how the black community is just the same as the white and I really think it makes them feel and have empathy. I also don't think they would have fully understood the cross-examination so instead, Lee wanted us to read a one on one interaction with the black community. I felt that the verdict was super unfair. You can tell in this community blacks are undermined and I don't agree with that at all. I also think it was unfair because there was evidence routing for Tom but the jury was all white men so he lost and the white women won. "His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side....I could see that it was no use to him."(Lee 211) This was one of the main pieces of evidence I think they could have shown because his arm being hurt didn't line up with the girls' injuries. I think this would have given everyone a thought that he was not guilty because it sure gave me that thought. 

"Dill watch out now," I warned. Dill released the straws and grinned. "Scoutt, it's nothing but Coca-Cola." Mr.Raymond sat up against the tree trunk. He had been lying on the grass."You little folks won't tell on me now, will you? It'd ruin my reputation if you did."(pg 227 Lee). They have heard really bad things/rumors about Mr.Raymond which they had always just assumed were true until actually talking to him. This shows that people judge people when they're different. I was mad about the verdict but not surprised, even though the other side had no case they won due to the color of their skin."Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father" No answer."(pg 213 Lee). Her not replying and being uneasy almost seems like she doesn't know how to reply because she knows she is lying. Adding in parts like this is important because it adds to the story, the opposing side did not prove above reasonable doubt that it was Tom Robbinson but due to the color of his skin he still was convicted.

"Then you just pretend you're half--?"(Lee 228) Dill and Scout needed to understand the is is all an act with Mr. Raymond. We needed to see this to better understand the towns people and how they treat others. The fact that this man has to act drunk all the time to be left alone by the towns people says something. He has mixed babies and this is very frowned upon during this time and in this town. Him being "drunk" gives them a reason to not like him.This is why I am not surprised by the verdict. I feel he is innocent. But logic is not part of the towns people thinking."I say guilt gentlemen, because it was guilt that motivated her. She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time honored code of our society. "(Lee 231) As a reader it created a sense of hope. In the fact that to jury would come to their senses and do whats right and not what is the norm. This sense of false hope drives the story.

'"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating"' (Lee, 228). I feel this is a good quote, because it changes Scout's point of view on the initial situation, as mixed children were far from common back in this time, so he was viewed as "evil" for that fact, as that was how people that back at that time. "His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side... I could see that it was no use to him" (Lee, 211). His injuries vs Mayella's injuries don't line up. He's crippled, she's not. Plus, whenever she gets interrogated, she gets extremely defensive. It could just be a normal reaction, or she could be faking the whole thing to get attention, and to kill someone who is in reality, innocent. But, the verdict is he is guilty. I was honestly disappointed but not surprised by this, because obviously if a white woman plays the victim card in a very racist society claiming a black man raped her, even if she's lying, the court will 9 times out of 10 believe someone of "their kind" over someone of another race. 

"....."Scout, it's nothing but Coca-Cola." Mr.Raymond sat up against the tree trunk. He had been lying on the grass."You little folks won't tell on me now, will you? It'd ruin my reputation if you did." (Lee 227)seeing the townspeople through scouts and dill eye help thereader better understand other characters and it helps the reader by scout seeing things different rather than a adult

The verdict was a little surprising but even though Atticus had a very strong defense, It was very common in that time period for a court ruling to be ruled based on someone's skin color. It was very rare for a colored person to win in court.

"His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right,... I could see that it was no use to him" (Lee 211) what mayellas claims tom had done does not add up. With Tom's injuring it would have been very very difficult to cause such injury she claims he did.

"'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 they'er people, too."' (pg.229 Lee)  This is more important because not only do we get to see what kinda person Mr.Raymond is but we also get to see how Dill and scout feel about everything going on and we can see that they actually understand things and also realize how bad things really are.  

The verdict was a little surprising because of how well atticus did but its not that surprising because they kind of went into know that the chances or him winning the case were slim.  Later on they even go on and talk about how they think that atticus was choosing to help defend this guy because he was someone that could bring the best defense forward.

"Atticus's next question was one word long.  "How?" Mayella was raging. "I don't know how he done it, but he done it-I said it all happend so fast I-."' (pg.211 Lee) This shows that she cant even explain how she got raped because the guy she is accusing is "crippled" so he could not have done such a thing.  This impacts especially moments like this to the reader because it makes us think its right out in the open about how the ending should go but everything changes shifts and it makes us wonder what everyone was thinking during this time.

"Dill watch out now," I warned. Dill released the straws and grinned. "Scott, it's nothing but Coca-Cola." Mr.Raymond sat up against the tree trunk. He had been lying on the grass."You little folks won't tell on me now, will you? It'd ruin my reputation if you did."(pg 227 Lee). They have heard really bad things/rumors about Mr.Raymond which they had always just assumed were true until actually talking to him. This shows that people judge people when they're different. I was mad about the verdict but not surprised, even though the other side had no case they won due to the color of their skin."Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father" No answer."(pg 213 Lee). And then she replied very scarily I guess as if one of them did something top her and then I think she told them what had happened to her.

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating." (Lee 228) I feel as though this is very important for them to understand that there are people that "didn't care" about what others truly thought. They needed to talk with him given the situation present in the town. This shows another point of view for the kids. "He blacked your left eye with his right fist?' 'I ducked and it glanced, that's what it did. I ducked and it glanced off.' Mayella had finally seen the light. 'You're becoming suddenly clear on this point. A while ago you couldn't remember too well, could you?' (Lee 212) Atticus had good evidence about how it was more likely that a left-handed person would leave bruises on the right side of the face. So I thought that the jury would take in this evidence and realized that she was flabbergasted almost the whole trial struggling to answer the questions. I wish that the jury had a different verdict because Tom Robinson didn't deserve it, he felt bad for Mayella. 

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man of had mixed children and didn't care who know it, but he was fascinating. I had never encountered a being who deliberately perpetrated fraud against himself. But why had he entrusted us with his deepest secret?" (Lee 228) I like this quote from the book because by Scout talking to Mr.Raymond it changes her point of view about him. I think the this important because Scout and Dill learn a little more about the black community and not all people are bad even if they are faking it. "Who beat you? Tom Robinson or your father? No answer." (Lee 213) A quote like this can impact the reader because it adds to the story. It also might make the reader changes their point of view on the story. I wasn't really surprised that that Tom was convicted. 

"I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch on to a reason. . . . 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 228) even though throughout the story Mr Raymond hasn't had much relevance, he does show the reader a perspective and idea that Scout hasn't seen before. People do best they can to keep themselves looking as normal as possible, and even Mr Raymond makes a attempt to do this. Appearing like a troubled and alcohol addicted man gives everyone else and excuse to sit back and not question his actions or retaliate against them.

When we see this moment we're let in on something a little less obvious in the story, Scout has seen the world through Scout-Colored glasses, she see's people from the outside like many others in this town. But he interaction with Mr Raymond cements that things for her and for us aren't always as black and white as they seem. Scout being a child cements this even more since she's especially influenced in her perspective from Atticus and everyone else around her. 

I'll be honest, I wasn't all that surprised about it, I wasn't expecting a win mostly because Mr Young kinda gave us a hint that the ending wouldn't be what we expected. As a audience, we expect to read a story and get a good conclusion, where the bad guys lose and the good guys get held up, but this book is extremely accurate in how it paints the way life rolls out. This book does and amazing job painting a perspective and establishing it. A lot of times perspective follows a character but doesn't necessarily reflect how things would really work, molding the narrative to fit how one character feels, this story doesn't do that and intentionally leaves the audience in the dark at some points in the story. 

"Then she burst into real tears. Her shoulders shook with angry sobs. . . . I guess if she hadn't been so poor and ignorant, Judge Taylor would have put her under the jail for the contempt she had shown everybody in the courtroom." (Lee 214) We see through the evidence that they're probably lying and as an audience we expect to see the outcome reflect this, but this just shows us how rigged the system is against people of color. Even if the judge knows that this person isn't guilty, the authority and judgement of the people keeps the system unfair, and until major changes are made to society as a whole, institutions remain biased. 

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew it, but he was fascinating. I had never encountered a being who deliberately perpetrated fraud against himself. But why had he entrusted us with his deepest secret?" (Lee 228) This quotation not only shows how Scout's opinion of Mr. Raymond changed over time, but it also shows how the black and white communities interact with one another. Mr. Raymond has put up a show of being a cranky drinker, and most whites in the white community believe it, as do the children. I believe he is sharing this information with them because children are less prejudiced and have a more open mind than adults. I believe it was more necessary for us to follow Scout and Dill because they are learning more and more about how the black and white communities are similar, and I believe this is causing them to feel and have empathy. I also don't believe they would have fully comprehended the cross-examination, therefore Lee wanted us to read a one-on-one conversation with the black community instead. I too believe the decision was unjust. You can tell that black people are being marginalized in this town, which I strongly disagree with. I also believe it was unjust because there was evidence in Tom's favor, but the jury was made up entirely of white men, therefore he lost and Mayella triumphed. “His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side...I could see that it was no use to him.” (Lee 211) Because this arm being harmed didn't line up with the girl's injuries, I believe this was one of the key pieces of evidence they might have shown. This, I assumed, would have given everyone the impression that he was not guilty, as it did for me.

"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." "Because you're children, and you can understand it." (Lee 228) When Mr. Raymond explains his little secret. We get insight into what he does. We figure out it is all an act. This is something we wouldn't be able to see in the cross-examination and is very interesting. Scout was having trouble listening to the case anyway, and when Mr. Raymond talks about only kids being able to understand, things become more clear to her. 

I was a little bit surprised at the verdict, I thought that the evidence was going to go Atticus' way. It makes sense, it presented it well, and it seemed like it should go his way. Whether it's the past racism in the book that played a role or any other favoritism, it was enough to rule him guilty. I personally would have ruled him innocent. 

After hearing the description of what Tom supposedly did to Miss Mayella, some interrogation, we see when Tom stands up that he is handicapped. Then Atticus asks, "-Do you wish to reconsider any of your testimony?" (Lee 212) When he says that, it feels like he has figured out something the rest of the courtroom hasn't. It can be inferred that Tom being handicapped plays a big role. That was she described may be false, or not possible. Atticus realizes this and asks that question. At this point in the case, it seems like Atticus knows where this is going, and he can steer the ruling in his favor. 

¨I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew, but he was fascinating.(Lee 228) This quote not only shows how the black and white community interacts with each other but scout has a better understanding of Mr Raymond. He needed the kids to under stand that there were people who ¨didn't care¨ about having mixed children and he didn't care who knew. This brought a better understanding towards the children. ¨Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?¨ (Lee 213)  This quote shows that Atticus is trying to help Tom Robinson because he knows that he is innocent, this quote adds to the story because it gives more detail on the case and can help the reader change there point of view on the cause to thinking maybe it was her father and not Tom Robinson. Its important to follow  scout and dills conversation with Mr Raymond because scout and dill are following along with the case and as they grow up they are understanding more about the case and want to be involved. 

"I had a feeling that I shouldn't be here listening to this sinful man who had mixed children and didn't care who knew, but he was fascinating"(Lee 228) I think that this shows how the White and colored community share views on their relationship with each other.

"Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?"(Lee 213) This gives insight into the case because Atticus knows that it was her father and was trying to get her to confess that it was her father. Atticus was devastated to find out he lost the case because this was personal to him. He believed that her father was the one to go to jail instead of Tom.

“Secretly Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.”(Lee, Pg. 228) Dill and Scout better realize who Mr. Raymond is and how he actually chooses to live. They see that he’s not just this drunken man, who knocked up a black woman and made mixed children. But he just puts on that facade to give people an “answer” for how he chose to live his life. It is important that the book followed Dill and Scout because the scene gave us further insight into a man who did not discriminate against blacks. Back then this was not normal, so Dill and Scout already had their opinions on Mr. Raymond. Mr. Raymond tries to help Dill and Scout understand that blacks are humans, just like whites. He opens their eyes to how prejudiced Maycomb county and the court truly is. I was very surprised at first by the verdict that the court had reached. I thought that the jury was actually going to make a judicious decision, and release Mr. Robinson. “It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him.”(Lee, Pg. 211) When Tom Robinson is asked by the Judge to stand up, we find that he is crippled with a short arm. I believed that this was going to be the turning point of the trial because it would make Mayella’s argument invalid. How could one choke a person with one hand, and beat them with the other if they had half an arm? Adding these types of moments in a story draws a reader's attention, and allows them to think deeper about a book.

“You mean all you drink in that sack’s Coca-Cola? Just plain CocaCola?” 

Mr Raymond drinks Coca-Cola out of a sack, everyone around him thinks he drinking alcohol out of it. He lets Jem have a swig of it and they realize it isn't alcohol. This helps them understand that Mr Rayomnd pretends to be drunk because he docent wanted people of Maycomb to question his ways.

Raymond gives good insight on not worrying about what people thinks and how different races give each-other a hard time.

I was not surprised about Tom being convicted, in a town like Maycomb in favor of whites, it is hard to win such a controversial trial.

"Who beat you? Tom Robinson or your father?" Atticus gives a good word about Mayellas father potentially beating her. This shines a light of hope towards Tom but does not suceed.

This to some readers may shock them or, they may not be surprised.

" "It ain't honest, but it's mighty helpful to folks." " (Lee 228) Scout, Dill, and Jem all had this assumption about Mr. Raymond that he was just an old drunk who was incapable of changing his life when in reality he fakes being a drunk to allow people to be comfortable in their assumptions about him and is very happy with his life. This helps teach Scout and Dill that assumptions about people and their intentions are, more often than not, inaccurate and they can't always rely on people's appearance for those kinds of things.

I feel like we don't need to hear the full cross-examination of Tom Robinson to understand what had happened. As we'd seen in the brief part of it before they'd left,  Mr. Gilmer seems to badger him and attempt to force him to twist his own words on what had happened. They learn more by talking to Mr. Raymond than they would had they stayed in the court room.

I don't like the verdict, but it doesn't surprise me. In this time frame, a black mans word was considered nothing compared to a white man's because of the prejudice surrounding race at that time. 

" "Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?" No answer." (Lee 213) Her refusal to answer this question, along with many others of the same sort, seems pretty blatant that there's more to her story that she wouldn't admit. Anyone telling the truth would have answered immediately that it was one way or the other, but because she's lying she was torn between continuing her lie and telling the truth.

"You mean all you drink in that sack's Coca-Cola? Just Plain Coca-Cola (Lee 228)."  This quote describes that Mr. Raymond never was an alcoholic and instead he drank soda out of a paper bag to show children that looks can be quite deceiving.  

It's important for the story to follow Scout and Dill instead of attending the Cross-Examination to build up the anticipation of the final verdict of the court and we mostly follow Scout and Dill because Scout is narrating as well and she didn't see the event.

I was shocked by the verdict because the evidence points away from Tom Robinson being the suspect and it was clear that mayella was lying.

You were screaming all this time? I certainly was.  Then why didn't the other children hear you? Where were they? At the dump? No Answer.  Where were they?  Why didn't your screams make them come running? The dump's closer than the woods isn't it? No Answer (Lee 213)."  This quote shows mayella being left speechless with questions she couldn't lie about and become safe by just saying he did it, he choked, beat, and raped me.

This will impact readings by how they read the situation because most of the evidence was in favor of Tom and against Mayella.  This made many change their opinions or reinforced their opinions on the personality of Mayella and her father