Dill
Written by Daelin, Eli, Michael, Riley, Anonymous
Though Dill is not the most prominent character in the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, he is one of the most interesting characters in the whole novel. When we are first introduced to Dill, he is a kid without a father who befriends Jem and Scout. Right away we learn more about Dill, and find out that he has many interesting traits. Throughout the course of the book, we see Dill go through a major change, and learn about Dill in terms of conflict. All of this information shows that Dill is a dynamic character who is adventurous, humorous, diverse, and a trouble-maker.
Examples of how Dill is a dynamic character are as follows; at the beginning, Dill tells Jem and Scout that he does not have a father. Later, Dill arrives in Maycomb and tells Jem and Scout that he had seen his father, “Dill’s father was taller than ours, he had a black beard (pointed), and was president of the L & N Railroad” (Lee 36). This shows that Dill perhaps thought that his father was better than Atticus, by bragging about him. This, in turn, shows that Dill has pride in his father. Later in the book, Dill decides to run away, to Maycomb. There he tells Jem and Scout that his parents hated him. When Scout inquires further, Dill explains “‘They just wasn’t interested in me… they do get on a lot better without me, I can’t help them any’” (143). Dill goes on to explain how his parents never wanted to spend time with him. Dill’s perception of his father has changed from being proud of him, to feeling neglected. This change of thought that Dill goes through makes him a dynamic character. However, there are still many characteristics of his that remain constant throughout the book.
Dill is an adventurous, humorous, and diverse character. When we are introduced to him, he immediately shows characteristics that stand out and stick with him throughout the book. Dill says, “’I’m Charles Baker Harris, I can read’” (7). Dill goes on to say how he is seven years old, and that he is little for his age. He also states how people call him Dill, he is from Median, Mississippi, and he had seen "Dracula". From this information, it is obvious that Dill is a diverse character, having many unique traits. Later on in the passage, Scout says, “Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies" (8). Scout later explains how Dill likes and plays characters like the ape in "Tarzan" and other eccentric characters in Jem and Scout’s games. From this, the inference could be made that Dill is humorous. This is also supported by a passage later in the book, "There ain't one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so I'm gonna join the circus and laugh at them" (216) which also shows Dill’s wit. When Jem and Scout tell Dill about Boo Radley, he immediately jumps at the opportunity to try and see him. This could lead a reader to believe that Dill is an adventurous character. From these inferences, it is clear that Dill is an adventurous, humorous, and diverse character.
In terms of conflict, Dill is a trouble-maker, but the trouble he makes is due to the fact that Dill is a dynamic character and he is unhappy with his fate. Dill reveals to Jem and Scout that he has run away from his parents, craving attention, and angry with his father (140). He says his parents do not like him, as shown in this passage, "Refreshed by food, Dill recited his narrative: having been bound in chains and left to die in the basement... by his new father, who disliked him, and secretly kept alive by a passing farmer who heard his cries for help... Dill worked himself free by pulling the chains from the wall" (140). The inference could be made that Dill is unhappy with his fate. As previously explained, Dill went through a change of admiring, then not liking his father. He feels neglected by his father, so it is obvious that Dill is unhappy at this point of the book. Another inference could be made that Dill enjoys making trouble. Dill tells Scout later that the story he told was highly exaggerated. By running away to Maycomb just because he craved attention from his father, and then glorifying the tale could lead a reader to believe that Dill likes to cause trouble. From these inferences, a claim can be made that Dill is a trouble-maker who is unhappy with his change of fate.
All of this evidence supports our original thesis, which was that Dill is a dynamic character who is adventurous, humorous, diverse, and a trouble-maker. Dill has many interesting traits, such as having a daring sense of adventure and good sense of humor. The change Dill goes through in To Kill a Mockingbird shows that Dill is dynamic, and the change also makes Dill unhappy. This causes him to run away, which shows that Dill is a trouble-maker. All of this information clearly shows that Dill one of the most interesting characters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Examples of how Dill is a dynamic character are as follows; at the beginning, Dill tells Jem and Scout that he does not have a father. Later, Dill arrives in Maycomb and tells Jem and Scout that he had seen his father, “Dill’s father was taller than ours, he had a black beard (pointed), and was president of the L & N Railroad” (Lee 36). This shows that Dill perhaps thought that his father was better than Atticus, by bragging about him. This, in turn, shows that Dill has pride in his father. Later in the book, Dill decides to run away, to Maycomb. There he tells Jem and Scout that his parents hated him. When Scout inquires further, Dill explains “‘They just wasn’t interested in me… they do get on a lot better without me, I can’t help them any’” (143). Dill goes on to explain how his parents never wanted to spend time with him. Dill’s perception of his father has changed from being proud of him, to feeling neglected. This change of thought that Dill goes through makes him a dynamic character. However, there are still many characteristics of his that remain constant throughout the book.
Dill is an adventurous, humorous, and diverse character. When we are introduced to him, he immediately shows characteristics that stand out and stick with him throughout the book. Dill says, “’I’m Charles Baker Harris, I can read’” (7). Dill goes on to say how he is seven years old, and that he is little for his age. He also states how people call him Dill, he is from Median, Mississippi, and he had seen "Dracula". From this information, it is obvious that Dill is a diverse character, having many unique traits. Later on in the passage, Scout says, “Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies" (8). Scout later explains how Dill likes and plays characters like the ape in "Tarzan" and other eccentric characters in Jem and Scout’s games. From this, the inference could be made that Dill is humorous. This is also supported by a passage later in the book, "There ain't one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so I'm gonna join the circus and laugh at them" (216) which also shows Dill’s wit. When Jem and Scout tell Dill about Boo Radley, he immediately jumps at the opportunity to try and see him. This could lead a reader to believe that Dill is an adventurous character. From these inferences, it is clear that Dill is an adventurous, humorous, and diverse character.
In terms of conflict, Dill is a trouble-maker, but the trouble he makes is due to the fact that Dill is a dynamic character and he is unhappy with his fate. Dill reveals to Jem and Scout that he has run away from his parents, craving attention, and angry with his father (140). He says his parents do not like him, as shown in this passage, "Refreshed by food, Dill recited his narrative: having been bound in chains and left to die in the basement... by his new father, who disliked him, and secretly kept alive by a passing farmer who heard his cries for help... Dill worked himself free by pulling the chains from the wall" (140). The inference could be made that Dill is unhappy with his fate. As previously explained, Dill went through a change of admiring, then not liking his father. He feels neglected by his father, so it is obvious that Dill is unhappy at this point of the book. Another inference could be made that Dill enjoys making trouble. Dill tells Scout later that the story he told was highly exaggerated. By running away to Maycomb just because he craved attention from his father, and then glorifying the tale could lead a reader to believe that Dill likes to cause trouble. From these inferences, a claim can be made that Dill is a trouble-maker who is unhappy with his change of fate.
All of this evidence supports our original thesis, which was that Dill is a dynamic character who is adventurous, humorous, diverse, and a trouble-maker. Dill has many interesting traits, such as having a daring sense of adventure and good sense of humor. The change Dill goes through in To Kill a Mockingbird shows that Dill is dynamic, and the change also makes Dill unhappy. This causes him to run away, which shows that Dill is a trouble-maker. All of this information clearly shows that Dill one of the most interesting characters in the book To Kill a Mockingbird.