Raymond And Boo Radley Similarities

Thirdly, another similarity between Boo Radley and Dolphus Raymond is the fact that Boo and Dolphus hide their true identities in order to conform to the townspeople’s views of them. In order for Boo Radley to conform to the townspeople’s views about him, Boo allows his ruined reputation to replace his real identity. Boo Radley is perceived as an evil and sinful man by his own townspeople, when in reality Boo is this shy, withdrawn man. Due to Boo Radley’s reclusiveness, his longing to be accepted by the townsfolk of Maycomb is not very strong. However, he still hides his true identity—except when he is around Jem and Scout. His true identity unravels when Jem finds out that it was Boo who hems his pants, and who left him and Scout treats in

the tree. During Jem’s discover he exclaims to Atticus saying, Mr. Nathan [Radley] put cement in that tree, Atticus, an‘ he did it to stop us findin’ things—he’s crazy, I reckon, like they say, but Atticus, I swear to God [Boo] ain’t ever harmed us, [Boo] ain’t ever hurt us, [Boo] coulda cut my throat from ear to ear that night but [Boo] tried to mend my pants instead… [Boo] ain’t ever hurt us, Atticus. (Lee 96).
Jem talking about Boo cutting his throat is of course Jem referring to the rumours about Boo Radley being a six-foot giant who eats rats and stabs people with scissors (Lee 16). Boo’s true identity is revealed to Maycomb’s citizens, Jem, Atticus and Scout. Boo is truly just as shy man who has forgotten how to socialize with the outside world due to him staying inside all the time.
Boo is conforming to the town’s views about him by remaining inside all the time, he could step out of his house and prove the townspeople of Maycomb wrong; that he is alive and does not have blood-stained hands.

However, the reason Boo Radley allows the town to keep the rumours about him alive, is because that is how he believes he can be accepted and not bothered by the Maycomb community. Boo Radley is a shy and peaceful man who has no friends, and no outside communications, by revealing himself to the world he will lose everything he is accustomed to, such as his peace and silence. Similarly, Dolphus Raymond also hides his true self by allowing his fake reputation as a drunkard to take over his true identity in order to conform to the views of Maycomb townspeople. Dolphus Raymond’s longing to be accepted by the Maycomb’s townpeople is not very strong. For example while talking to Scout, Scout asks him, “Why do you like to do what you do?” and Dolphus replies with,
Some folks don’t—like the way I live.... It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town ... if I weave a little and 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 (Lee

268).
He conforms to the views of Maycomb townspeople by pretending to be drunk all the time. Dolphus is a white man who loves a black woman who he has mixed children with. This raises a red flag for Maycomb because their society does not approve of these types of relationships due to the racism and prejudice in the town. Therefore, by pretending to be drunk all the time, Dolphus has the excuse he wants to be able to do what he wants. Dolphus blames his drunkard self for all the actions he does. If Dolphus is seen with African-Americans, the Maycomb townspeople will just blame it on the fact that Dolphus is drunk and does not know what he is doing. He allows himself to be the drunkard of the town in order to be accepted the way he wants to live. Finally, Boo Radley and Dolphus Raymond are similar for both hide their true selves in order to conform to the views of Maycomb townsfolk. There is a reason why Boo and Dolphus only show their true identities in children, and that is because they know that the children have not full contracted “Maycomb’s usual disease” (Lee 117), which is the prejudice, racism and bigotry that most of the townspeople of Maycomb possess. Both Boo and Dolphus know that they live in a town full of “diseased” people, so why should they change the way that they live for people who do not care. Might as well allow the townspeople to believe what they want to believe because as long Boo and Dolphus live the way they want and are content with lying to do so, then nothing else matters. As Dolphus states it, “the hell with ‘em” (in reference to Maycomb townspeople.) As a result, Boo Radley and Dolphus Raymond both hide their true identities in order to conform to their townspeople’s views about them.