In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Dill Harris is represented as a sad clown, who tells tall tales, embraces aspects of others while being the comic relief that has a mature view of racial issues in the South. Without Dill, the novel would lack passion and the excitement it holds.
“Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quiet fantasies,” (pg. 9). Dill Harris was a character that always exaggerated his stories, but Dill used exaggeration to run from reality. He used his imagination to go into a world of perfect harmony where he would not have to face his problems. “Clowns are sad, it’s folks that laugh at them,” (pg.247). Dill Harris represents a clown, he creates stories to entertain others, when deep down inside he feels lonely and neglected by his parents. “Well, they stayed gone all the time, and when they were at home, even, they’d get off in a room by themselves,” (pg. 161). Dill was so important because he was the comic relief that soothed conflicts as they rose up.
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Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry[...] about the simple hell people give other people- without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even thinking that they’re people too,” (228-229). These were Mr. Raymond’s words to Dill during the Tom Robinson trial. Dill Harris does not see things in only ‘black and white’ anymore, he sees the ‘gray’ areas as well. He sees the injustice and the cruelty towards colored folks, and has a physical reaction to the situation. His coming of age also shows hope, as Scoutt is already hit with the stick of segregation in Maycomb, “He’s just a negro,” (pg.226). Dill still shows a spark of change unlike the other characters, he has grown throughout the novel but has also learned to care for people, despite their color shows how he understands inequality, and believes in