In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Mr. Dolphus Raymond navigates the entrenched racism of Maycomb by adopting a facade of alcoholism. A white man who prefers the company of African Americans and has mixed-race children, Raymond understands the town's intolerance. To avoid direct confrontation, he pretends to drink whiskey from a paper bag, which actually contains Coca-Cola. This charade allows the townspeople to attribute his unconventional lifestyle, rather than confronting their own racist attitudes. Raymond's approach highlights the pervasive nature of prejudice and the lengths to which individuals must go to live authentically in a deeply segregated society.
