Dill-Childhood Innocence

        Dill is probably one of my favorite characters in this book. He lives in Mississippi, so you would think that he has seen a lot of racism. He does not take seeing Tom on the stand being torn apart by Mr. Gilmer well. Dill begins to sob when he sees Mr. Gilmer questioning Tom. Scout and Dill are then forced to leave because Jem and Reverand Sykes don't want them watching. Scout seems a little crestfallen when she is forced to leave, but then she is a good friend to Dill and goes with him. As they are outside, they meet Mr. Raymond. They assume he is an evil person, but find he is an interesting character. He lets everyone think that he is drunk all the time because he gives them a reason that he enjoys African American people's presence than white people. I find this funny because in my mind you shouldn't have to give people a reason you want to be with certain people. If you want to hang out with a person, you shouldn't be judged for hanging out with that person.
        Dill is crying in this because he still has his childhood innocence. He hasn't grown immune to racism like other people around him. If I was there, I would probably be in the same boat. I probably wouldn't cry, but I would have to leave because it would make me physically sick. Scout, Jem, and everyone else in that room are used to racism. They don't get physically sick because they may even take part in it sometimes. They lost their childhood innocence because they see African Americans attacked verbally and sometimes physically all the time. A lot of adults in that room don't even notice the way that Mr. Gilmer talks to Tom Robinson the way that Dill does because they are so beyond used to people talking and acting that way. They don't understand anymore that it is wrong. They just think because everyone else is doing it, it must be okay for them to do it too. The adults then raise their children to act that way too. Their kids grow up thinking it is okay to make fun of someone because of their skin color, and then the process keeps repeating. It makes you sick thinking about that, and I can see why it would push a boy to tears, especially if he doesn't see a lot of racism.