So why does Dill want to be a clown when he grows up? Dill wants to be a clown is symbolism of his growing maturity. Instead of a clown that makes people laugh at the clown, he wants to be a clown that laughs at other people. He wants to laugh at the people or society because of the idiocy of the Tom Robinson trial. Throughout the story, Dill has been portrayed to be both an outsider to Maycomb and an observer of the story. He is the moral thermometer to all the other characters in the story, with a personality that is a complication of all these characters. He’s trying lure Boo Radley out of his hiding mirrors that of Bob Ewell with Tom Robinson, though not for heinous intention. Then he creates lies and bogus stories just like how Mayella Ewell does during the Tom Robinson court case. When Dolphus Raymond comes to town, Dill acts like him. He also risks his safety running to Maycomb like how Jem does when collecting pants from the Radleys. He represents the lies spewed by the people. It is ironic, however, that he would sob when the Ewells won the case with the lies about Tom Robinson. So he decides to be a clown, a liar that makes others laugh at the expense of himself, but in his case, laughing at others instead and be happy.