How does Dill react to the verdict in To Kill A Mockingbird?

, , and
Dill are profoundly impacted by the outcome of the trial and lose their childhood innocence
after witnessing the Tom Robinson verdict. During the trial, Dill cannot control his emotions
when Mr. Gilmer begins cross-examining Tom Robinson. Dill is disgusted and upset with the way
Mr. Gilmer disrespects Tom and treats him with contempt during his questioning. Dill even bursts
into tears and Scout escorts him outside to calm down. Once they leave the courtroom, Dill tells
Scout,

"It aint right, somehow it aint right to do
€˜em that way. Hasnt anybody got any business talkin like thatit just makes me sick" (Lee,
203).

After Dill manages to control his emotions, the
children go back into the courtroom to witness the verdict. Tragically, Tom Robinson becomes a
victim of racial injustice when he is wrongly convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella
Ewell.

Following the Tom Robinson trial, Jem begins to cry and complains
toabout the obvious injustice. Dill is also upset with the verdict and expresses his displeasure
at witnessing racial injustice firsthand by commenting,

"I think Ill be a clown when I get grown...Yes sir, a clown...There aint one thing
in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so Im gonna join the circus and laugh my head
off" (Lee, 220).

Dill's comment about becoming a
clown indicates that he was profoundly affected by the unfortunate outcome of the trial. Similar
to Jem, Dill has lost all faith in the court system and is digusted by Tom's injustice. After
losing his childhood innocence, Dill wants to protect his fragile emotions from ever
experiencing anything traumatic or tragic again. However, Dill is too young and naive to realize
that becoming a clown will not protect his emotions. Dill also gains a significant perspective
on Maycomb's racist community and understands the dangers of racial prejudice and
injustice.