Chapter 20

TKAM Chapter 20
Summary:
At the end of chapter 19 Dill and Scout go outside because Dill is not feeling to well and has started to cry. Then Mr. Dolphus Raymond came up. Mr. Dolphus Raymond offered Jem a drink from his notorious bag with a straw that everyone thinks is liquor. Dill takes a sip and discovers that it was not liquor in the bag but coca-cola. Dill and Scout have a nice conversation and Mr. Dolphus Raymond explains why he drinks coca-cola and not liquor. He says that he pretends to be drunk to give white people a reason why he lives the way he does. Dill and Jem are fascinated with Mr. Dolphus Raymond and talk to him for a while. Dill and Jem then remember they were missing Mr. Gilmer’s cross examination and go back into the court room. When they enter the courtroom Atticus is giving his speech to the jury. Atticus makes his point by explaining that it is impossible for Tom Robinson to attack Mayella the way she was bruised with a handicapped left arm. Atticus also says that Mayella broke an unwritten code by throwing herself on to a black man, something that is unheard of in Maycomb. Atticus also brings up the point that there was a biased against Tom Robinson going in to this trial. This bias is that black people are immoral and bad people, and are a danger towards women. Towards the end of his speech Atticus has a great ending by saying that all men are created equal. He explains that all men might not be created equal at birth but should all be equals when in court in front of a jury. At the very end of the chapter Dill points out that Calpurnia is walking down the middle of the isle towards Atticus after his speech. Jem and Scout cannot believe there eyes when they see Calpurnia walking towards Atticus.


Major Changes and Development:
Mr. Dolphus Raymond: When Scout and Dill talk to him his character changes from a mean drunk to a nice man who is misunderstood. He is misunderstood because people to not understand his life choices so he covers this up by pretending he has a drinking problem.
Atticus: He changes in Scout and Jem’s mind because he does some things in the courtroom that they rarely see him do. They saw Atticus sweat which could be a sign that he is nervous. They also see him undress to his shirt and unbutton it a little bit. Atticus never does this at home except when he is getting ready to go to bed.

Significant Quotations:
Mr. Dolphus Raymond:
“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 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.” (268)
This quote shows that Dolphus Raymond really does care about his image, because if he didn’t care he wouldn’t have to drink to give people a reason why he lives the way he does. This quote also shows a lot about Maycomb because being a drunk can be an excuse to live a way which is not respected.
Scout:
“We followed his finger with sinking hearts. Calpurnia was making her way up the middle aisle, walking straight towards Atticus.” (275)
This shows that Calpurnia may be different then Scout and Jem thought. This is because Calpurnia is the last person they would expect to walk down the aisle straight towards Atticus.

Literary Elements:
Stereotypes
This is a motif because it is shown again and again throughout the book and is a major part of Maycomb. Mr. Dolphus Raymond is stereotyped as a drunk who cannot help himself so isn’t questioned about the way he lives. Atticus also brings the stereotypes of a black male in front of the jury.

Vocabulary:
Corroborative: to make more certain; confirm:
Subsequent: adj. Following in time or order; succeeding.

Critical Thinking:
Do you think Mr. Dolphus Raymond faking to be a drunk is worth the reputation it gives him? Or should he not fake being a drunk and live an open life?
What do you think Calpurnia will do once she walks all the way down the aisle and meet up with Atticus?
Do you think Tom Robinson will plead guilty or not?