Question

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what is Harper Lee's deeper message by presenting Bob Ewell opposite Atticus Finch?

Accepted Answer

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee present Bob Ewell as a foil to Atticus Finch. A foil is someone who makes another character seem better simply because of how different he is from the other. For example, even though both men are single fathers, Bob Ewell is not as good of a provider for his family as Atticus is. Atticus provides food, a nanny, affection, and guidance for his children, while Bob Ewell does not. Atticus expects his children to go to school, obey the law, tell the truth, and treat others fairly and with kindness. Bob Ewell does none of those things for his children.
By comparing and contrasting these two fathers throughout the story, readers feel empathy for the Ewell children, who suffer under a selfish and irresponsible father. On the other hand, readers feel grateful Atticus is the best father he can be for Jem and Scout. The contrast between these two fathers might seem extreme because Atticus never does anything wrong while Ewell can't do anything right, but the theme behind it goes back to how people are brought up. For example, Atticus comes from a respectable family while the Ewells, according to Atticus, "had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations" (30).
It would seem, then, that the deeper meaning behind people's behaviors has a lot to do with a person's education and upbringing. Based on the results of generations of examples from both the Finches and the Ewells, it is also logical to infer Lee decided to present the two men together to show the beliefs and values a family chooses to believe have a long-lasting effect on future generations. One of Atticus's mantras that shows what his upbringing and education have taught him is as follows:

"If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (30).

Bob Ewell never learned anything similar to the goodness Atticus learned. A father will pass down to his children what he knows and values. Unfortunately for the Ewells, all they ever learn is to lie, cheat, steal, and usurp authority for selfish reasons.

To Kill a Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what is Harper Lee's deeper message by presenting Bob Ewell opposite Atticus Finch?

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