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To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

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Atticus's strategy with Bob Ewell's testimony in To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary:

Atticus's strategy with Bob Ewell's testimony in To Kill a Mockingbird is to expose the inconsistencies and biases in Ewell's account. He aims to demonstrate that Ewell's accusations against Tom Robinson are based on racial prejudice and not on facts. By carefully questioning Ewell, Atticus seeks to reveal the truth and highlight the lack of credible evidence against Robinson.

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In chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what does Atticus establish through Bob Ewell's testimony?

Atticus' main purpose with Bob Ewell's testimony is actually two-fold.

First of all, Atticus works to prove that Bob Ewell didn't care enough about his daughter's health to seek the help of a doctor. This is an odd behavior for a parent, especially if he is so excited to get Mayella to testify in court against her supposed attacker. You would think Bob Ewell would want as much evidence as possible.

Secondly, Atticus tries to prove that Bob is left-handed. Bob clearly shows he doesn't understand what it means to have strength in both hands or one more than the other because on the last page of the chapter, he confused the question while proving himself to be left-handed.

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What does Atticus establish through Bob Ewell's testimony?

This is a great question. Atticus' examination of Bob Ewell was masterful. Atticus acted as any lawyer would to gain facts, but at the end, he did something odd, which appeared to have no relationship with what was going on. He asked Bob Ewell if he could write. After Bob Ewell said that he could, he asked for proof. 

When Bob Ewell, who did not know where Atticus was going with this, signed his name, it was clear to all that Bob was left-handed. And when it came to light that he was not ambidextrous, then it gave further proof that he beat his daughter. 

The injuries that Mayella sustained were from a man who was left-handed. What made this point even clearer is that Tom Robinson's arm was badly injured from a work accident. He was handicapped. He could not have beaten Mayella. 

So, in a word, Atticus tried to prove that Bob Ewell could have and actually did beat Mayella.

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