User:Yotp95

Masked Personality

“Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.” This quote said by Ralph Waldo Emerson shows that some people are different than they really seem. Hidden character also relates to many people in the pages of literature. Appearing in every book, at least one character hides his or her true personality. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, many characters appear different at first but are discovered to be someone else. Throughout Scout and Jem’s events in Maycomb County, they encounter several different people that are truly diverse than they first appear to be. Some of these people are Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Mrs. Dubose, and Calpurnia.

First, Mr. Dolphus Raymond has a different personality once Scout gets to know him. In the beginning he appears to be a drunken man that consumes plenty of whiskey daily due to rumors. These gossips also say that he sits with African American people and has mixed children. Jem explains to Scout and Dill, “‘He likes ‘em bettern’n he likes us, I reckon. Lives by himself way down near the county line. He’s got a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun’” (Lee 214). This shows that Mr. Dolphus Raymond is different from everyone else in Maycomb County because he is white but cares for those that are half white and half black. Later on during the trial when Dill started to cry and Scout followed him out, they encountered Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Scout is mortified and astonished when Mr. Raymond offers Dill a drink from his bag filled with whiskey and Dill starts to drink it. She finds out that the bag is filled with Coca-Cola, but he wants the reputation of a drunk so he tells everyone it is filled with whiskey. He believes that if people think he is drunk, they will not bother him and question his ways. He tells Scout and Dill, “‘When I come to town, which is seldom, if I weave a little 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’” (Lee 268). This shows that he cares for others and tries his hardest to make sure no one stops him from doing what he thinks is right. Scout and Dill discover that unlike all of the terrible rumors that Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a mean drunken man, he is actually a very nice, caring person that would like to not be bothered by those of Maycomb. Mr. Dolphus Raymond has a very well hidden personality and turns out to be extremely kind and thoughtful rather than mean and unusual.

II. Mrs. Dubose

A.	Mean, old, and cranky

1.	At first, yelled at Scout and Jem

2.	She made fun of Atticus for defending Tom Robinson

3.	There were many rumors that she was very mean and Scout and Jem were afraid of going by her house

B.	Thoughtful

1.	Did not yell as much when Jem and Scout were there at her house while Jem was reading

2.	Gave Jem a gift to show friendship

3.	Did not complain as much when Jem was reading to her

III. Calpurnia

A.	Just a servant and not different anywhere else

1.	She was thought to just be there to cook

2.	Did not say much and only said thoughts at times

3.	She seemed mean to Scout when Scout did not want Walter Cunningham to have lunch and her house

B.	Friendly, nice, helpful, and different personalities

1.	She took Scout and Jem to her church and showed that she is different in different locations (talks unlike she does at Scout and Jem’s house)

2.	She does not let Alexandra bother her when Alexandra does not like her and does not want her there

3.	She helped the town by informing everyone of the “mad dog”

In conclusion, many people in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee have a hidden personality. Mr. Dolphus Raymond acts drunken and different at first but then shows that he is really very kind and caring. Mrs. Dubose is a mean lady that yells at children but after reveals that she can be kind and thoughtful to those around her. Lastly, Calpurnia has a hidden personality by first acting like just a cook however later appears to be a caring and helpful person. Throughout the journey of Maycomb County, Scout and Jem find those that are truly different once one gets to know them. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.”

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