During Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination, Tom Robinson accidentally says that
he felt sorry for Mayella Ewell, which is a serious mistake that Mr. Gilmer
takes advantage of and uses to sway the audience in his favor. Once Tom
recognizes his mistake, Mr. Gilmer begins speaking down to him in a derogatory
manner by referring to Tom as "boy."
For the remainder of the cross-examination, Mr. Gilmer badgers Tom and
blatantly disrespects him on the witness stand. Dill is so disgusted and upset
by Mr. Gilmer's treatment of Tom that he bursts into tears and cannot control
his emotions. Dill begins to cry so loud that Reverend Sykes suggests that
Scout remove Dill from the courtroom.
Once Scout and Dill leave the courtroom, they rest underneath a large oak
tree and Dill explains why he could not stop crying. Dill tells Scout, "It was
just him I couldn’t stand...That old Mr. Gilmer doin‘ him thataway, talking so
hateful to him." Scout doesn't fully understand why Dill is sensitive to Mr.
Gilmer's treatment of Tom and tries to explain that all prosecutors are hard on
witnesses. Dill responds by saying,
It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick...The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time an‘ sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered—...Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick.
Although Scout has difficulty understanding why Dill is so upset, Dolphus
Raymond interrupts their conversation, offers further insight into Dill's
feelings, and gives him a sip of Coca-Cola to calm his stomach. Dill becomes
sick to his stomach when he watches Mr. Gilmer disrespect Tom on the witness
stand by referring to him as "boy," constantly sneering at him, and giving Tom
attitude each time he asks a question.
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