I am woman....hear me roar.....
9 years ago
Friday, March 13, 2009
Racism
Discuss race issues in this book. Why does Calpurnia speak differently around other black people? Why does Mr. Raymond pretend he is drunk to help people cope with his mixed marriage?
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5 comments:
I think people just do what they are used and what doesn't cause waves.
Calpurnia and Mr. Raymond are like most people. They adapted to the situations they were in.
I love that Dolphus Raymond married who he wanted but I wish he had just owned it. He could have made a difference if he had but it would have also brought trial and heartache to his family so I understand why he didn't do it.
That is another thing that is said a couple times about Atticus. He is the same in the streets as he is in his home, or something like that.
I agree with everything Julie said. I think it really showcased what the differences in races was at that time.
I do have to admit that I had a hard time with the relentless use of the 'n' word because I HATE that word no matter who is saying it and in what context but I understand that she used it as part of the environment of the story.
Calpurnia talked the way that white folk talked when she was around the Finch's and others because she was a smart and somewhat educated woman. Around her people she talked the way they talked because she knew that they would be uncomfortable if she talked another way. This made them feel more comfortable around her and they still felt she was one of them, too. Mr. Raymond let people think he was drunk because he felt it would be easier for them to think he hung around and married and had children by a black woman because he was so drunk he didn't know what he was doing!
I think we all do exactly the same thing. We talk differently to some people than we do to others. If i can boast a little bit, i think i have a pretty good vocabulary. When i am in an academic or work environment i use different language than i do when i am with my friends or family. The reason being, it is appropriate in some situations and not in others. If I were to use the vocabulary i use when i'm in class or writing a research paper with my friends, I wouldn't have friends for very long. It would be offensive for me to do so, because my friends would think I'm trying to show off or that i think I'm better than them.
I also think that we act certain ways depending on who is watching us.
I think Mr. Raymond acted like a drunk so he would not become hateful and bitter to the people in Maycomb (the way they were to him). What I mean is, he could understand people hating him or not approving of him based on his drunkenness. But he couldn't understand why they would hate him for choosing a black woman that he loved. He was giving them an excuse to hate him so he wouldn't have to hate them back. Does that make sense?
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