How Does Raymond Lose Hope In To Kill A Mockingbird

Losing hope is an apparent theme throughout the numerous chapters in To Kill a Mockingbird and is evident in the actions of Dolphus Raymond, Mayella Ewell, and Tom Robinson. Dolphus Raymond is in love with a colored woman for reasons the residents of Maycomb County can’t seem to understand. They cannot wrap their heads around the fact that a privileged, handsome white man would want to have a life with a colored woman. After countless arguments and conversations about justifying his actions, Dolphus Raymond just lost hope in Maycomb understanding who he wants to be with and how he wants to live his life. “It ain’t honest but it’s mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker, but you see they could never, never understand

This ‘act’ that Raymond constantly puts on implies that he lost hope of Maycomb ever understanding his want to be with a colored woman. He lost so much hope that he had to give a reason to Maycomb to blame the decisions he makes whilst being drunk, otherwise it would leave Maycomb in a state of turmoil. Like Scout says, “.. a being who deliberately perpetrated fraud against himself’ (Lee 268), he lost all hope and belief that the adults of Maycomb would understand, therefore it resulted him telling it to children because they understand. Furthermore, Mayella Ewell is another character who lost hope in the residents of Maycomb. Bob Ewell, her father, undeniably abused Mayella throughout her livelihood and was brought into question and confrontation during court. “He does tollable, ‘cept when-’ ‘Except when?’ Mayella looked at her father, who was sitting with his chair tipped against the railing. He sat up straight and waited for her to answer. ...‘Except when he’s drinking?’ asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded”(Lee 244). “‘Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father?’ No

One infamous couple that is an evident theme throughout Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is love and sacrifice. The father-child bond between Atticus, Scout, and Jem is undoubtedly a symbol of love and sacrifice. “But do you think I could face my children otherwise? You know what’s going to happen as well as I do, Jack, and I hope and pray I can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness… I just hope that Jem and Scout come to me for their answers instead of listening to the town” (Lee 117). Atticus clearly knew what he was getting into when he took the case, he knew how it would affect him and his children. He implied that he loved his children so much that he wouldn't be able to be the best parent to his ability if he did not take the case. Moreover, taking the case means he has to sacrifice the early innocence and security of his children. Scout and Jem would be faced with the reality of racism and learn about Maycomb’s usual disease. They would face people who disapprove of Atticus defending a Negro, and have to face the insults directed at him. By the same token, Scout sacrificed her image at school because of the love she has for Atticus. “Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him” (Lee 102). There’s no doubt that Scout takes a fight