Minor Characters In To Kill A Mockingbird

People generally look at the bigger picture or overall effect of something, rather than the small details that made it what it is because they seem to be not important. That's how it may seem but if you look and think about these small details, they are actually very important. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the significance of minor characters can be seen through the development of the plot. In her novel, a family lives in Alabama during the Great Depression. During this time apart from poverty there were many forms of discrimination. Although they are minor characters, Dolphus Raymond, Mrs.Dubose, and Boo Radley shows the extent of discrimination.

Through the actions of Dolphus Raymond, he shows us that not everyone is discriminant

He wants the townspeople to think he is a drunk so they will not criticize him for marrying a black woman. Dolphus Raymond puts on this act so he does not end up being hated or rejected from the society. By saying this he is also implying that the people can never accept a white person being with a black without a reason, such as being drunk. As their conversation continues Dolphus Raymond also says “‘It ain’t honest but it’s mighty helpful to folks. Secretly, Miss Finch, I’m not much of a drinker, but you see they would never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live’”(Lee 268). Dolphus Raymond reveals that he likes the way he lives and the people he lives with. Even though he likes the way he lives and is not prejudice he does not do anything to change the people’s view on black people. Instead of coming out and saying he likes to live with the African Americans and saying they are nice people, he puts on an act for the society. He does not trust that his society will accept his love toward his wife and the black community, and is afraid of their reaction, which shows what a big deal racial discrimination was. The final thing Dolphus Raymond says to Scout and Dill is “‘you

Mrs.Dubose is one of the rudest old ladies that live in Maycomb near the Finch’s house. When Scout and Jem were going to town one day, Mrs.Dubose calls to them asking what they were doing. Throughout their conversation Mrs.Dubose says many insults, such as “‘Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!’”(Lee 135). Many people feels the same about Atticus, Scout’s and Jem’s father, after people found out he was going to be defending a black person. Before this trial came to be known, many people respected Atticus, but after the people found out he was defending a black person mostly everyone went against him. People started saying things just like what Mrs.Dubose was saying to the children. After their conversation is over, Scout reflects on what has happened and realized “I had become almost accustomed to hearing insults aimed at Atticus. But this was the first one coming from an adult”(Lee 136). Mrs.Dubose is the only adult that she heard that said things about her father. Scout usually hears these things in school and with her friends, which they probably learned to say from their parents. Mrs.Dubose is saying exactly what everyone else in the community thinks. This shows how people in Maycomb would discriminate black people or those who are with them. When Atticus goes to visit Mrs.Dubose she does not say the things she does to the children, instead