Atticus Finch is a lawyer who believes that everyone has good inside them and that everyone does the best with what they have. He's not one to cast stones first because he's a nonjudgmental person. That doesn't mean that he doesn't tell it like it is sometimes, though. When he is teaching his kids about Maycomb, he is kind, but also honest about their community. For example, when Atticus tries to explain Mr. Walter Cunningham as a person to his son, he says the following:
"Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man. . . he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us. . . A mob's always made up of people, no matter what. Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man. Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know--doesn't say much for them, does it?" (157).
Mr. Cunningham is a lot like other people in Maycomb. Atticus realizes that people in their town tend to follow the crowd sometimes. They get caught up in their "blind spots" and forget to do what's right. That "doesn't say much for them," but that doesn't mean that they are all completely evil, either.
Dolphus Raymond, on the other hand, believes that people in Maycomb live in their blind spots and that they can't understand anyone who lives a different way than they do. As a result, he explains that he won't put up with people in his life who are judgmental. He explains this to Scout and Dill as follows:
"Some folks don't--like the way I live. Now I could say the hell with 'em, I don't care if they don't like it. I do say I don't care if they don't like it, right enough--but I don't say the hell with 'em, see?" (200).
Dolphus doesn't dare say "to hell with 'em" publicly, though, because he doesn't dare do that and risk losing all connections to the community. So, in an effort to fit into the community as a misfit, he puts on a good show for the community by acting in a way that is contrary to what he really is.
"I try to give 'em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason. When I come to town, which is seldom, 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, that's why he lives the way he does" (200).
As shown above, Dolphus Raymond avoids taking responsibility for his life with members of the community by blaming his behavior on alcoholism. He would rather that community members believe a lie than have to defend his choice of lifestyle to them every time he goes to town. So, Raymond chooses to live just outside of the Maycomb social circles and not participate with them at all.
Atticus chooses to live among Maycomb residents as one of them, but he also decides to be the one who stands up for what is right when no one else will. Maycomb people are prejudiced, but they also know right from wrong. The problem is that they don't want to get involved in the controversial issues because they don't want to upset their comfortable way of life. Plus, they are a very small community and they depend on each other for their livelihoods. When Atticus and Jem are talking about those who are selected for juries, Atticus explains Maycomb people as follows:
"Our stout Maycomb citizens aren't interested [in sitting on juries], in the first place. In the second place, they're afraid. . . say, Mr. Link Deas had to decide the amount of damages to award, say, Miss Maudie, when Miss Rachel ran over her with a car. Link wouldn't like the thought of losing ether lady's business at his store, would he? So he tells Judge Taylor that he can't serve on the jurty because he doesn't have anybody to keep store for him while he's gone" (221).
Dolphus Raymond is afraid, too, but Atticus is not. Both men recognize the prejudices that the member of their community have, but they approach them differently. It seems as if Raymond chooses to hide among them while Atticus chooses to work along side of them. They are just as prejudiced and judgmental as any other Southern town in 1935.
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