What does the reader learn from Bob Ewell's evidence in Chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Ironically, Bob Ewell reveals more about himself than he does about Tom Robinson when he testifies under oath in the Maycomb County courtroom.

• Ewell claims Mayella was raped, yet he does not summon a doctor or take her to a hospital. When Atticus questions him, asking if he were not worried about his daughter's condition, he replies that he has never called a doctor "to any of his'n in his life."
• He lies under oath, testifying that Tom Robinson slapped Mayella was "rutting on her." This remark causes Judge Taylor to reprimand Ewell for his crude language, and order him to use language appropriate to a courtroom.
• He testifies that he did not touch Tom Robinson or go after him as he was too concerned about Mayella..."she was lyin' on the floor squallin'--"
• Ewell states that he ran immediately for the sheriff (despite Mayella's condition). Then, he complains about the neighbor hood that the Robinsons live in, saying it is "dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property--" [the Ewells live by the garbage dump].
• Unsuspecting that he may implicate himself, Ewell smugly "hold[s] with everything Tate said" about the injuries inflicted upon Mayella's right eye and her neck.
• When Atticus repeats his question, Ewell feels that "Atticus is an easy match."
• When asked if he can read and write, Ewell replies, "I most positively can....How do you think I sign my relief checks?" and the people listening chuckle.
• After he signs his name on the back of an envelop, Bob Ewell looks up complacently and notices the intentness of the judge and lawyers. He asks, "What's so interestin'?" and Judge Taylorr says, "You're left-handed." Not comprehending the significance of this condition, Ewell replies angrily that he does not see what his being left-handed had to do with anything, and further embellishes his accusations against "the n****r." 

Clearly, from his evidence, it becomes apparent that Ewell is a liar and an abusive parent; he has beaten his own daughter because he has found her in their house with a Negro, the only "type "person who can be below him and his family in the eyes of the Maycomb community--the only "type" whose association can embarrass him. His racial bias is apparent in several of his remarks; furthermore, he hopes to somehow elevate himself from being a horrible parent by lowering Robinson to a rapist and miscreant. Not only is his behavior reprehensible and his character unethical and vindictive, but Bob Ewell is crude, ignorant, close-minded, and antagonistic.

What does the reader learn from Bob Ewell's evidence in Chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

The major piece of evidence provided by Bob Ewell in chapter 17 is that he is left handed.  Because Tom Robinson's left arm was severely injured as a child, it's not possible that he could've hit Mayella with his left hand.  All of Mayella's injuries are on the right side of her face.  By illustrating that Bob Ewell is left handed, Atticus is showing the jury that it's possible he was the one who beat up Mayella. 

What does the reader learn from Bob Ewell's evidence in Chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

In my opinion, we learn that Bob Ewell himself could have been the one who beat up his daughter.  We see this from two things.

First, he does not bother to call for a doctor.  We can assume that if his daughter had truly been beaten and raped, he would want a doctor to examine her to be sure she is not seriously injured.

Second, we find out that he is left handed.  This makes it more likely that he has beaten Mayella because her injuries have most likely been caused by a left handed person.

In chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, how does the author characterize the Ewells, especially Bob Ewell?

Chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic novel by Harper Lee, is set in the courtroom at the trial of Tom Robinson, who is charged with Mayella Ewell's rape.

The main characterization here is provided through direct or indirect characterization.

Lilia Melanie, of Brooklyn College, provides definitions of two of the methods an author can use to provide the reader with information about his or her characters.

In direct presentation, a character is described by the author, the narrator or the other characters.

In indirect presentation, a character's traits are revealed by action and speech.

Harper Lee uses direct characterization in having some characters describe others (such as Boo Radley), and indirect characterization based on how characters act and what they say. Indirect characterization plays an enormous role in coming up with our impressions of Bob and Mayella Ewell, which will remain with the reader until the end of the story.

Bob Ewell, we learn, is a drunken good-for-nothing who is mean-spirited and lazy. In the courtroom, we hear from Ewell's own mouth that he is a racist, not only in using the n-word, but in acting as if Tom is of no consequence when he falsely accuses him. His ego, we will find, cannot abide the idea that he not be seen as a force to be reckoned with—mostly because he is white.

All the little man on the witness stand had that made him any better than his nearest neighbors was, that if scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water, his skin was white.

...and,

It was becoming evident that he thought Atticus an easy match. He seemed to grow ruddy again; his chest swelled, and once more he was a red little rooster.

Ewell has no respect for the court, taking the proceedings anything but seriously, and showing his sense of superiority towards Tom Robinson and his race, even though socially, Ewell is really the bottom of the "food chain," while Tom Robinson is a hard-working, gentle, caring man (as seen in how sympathetic he is towards Mayella, which ultimately gets him in trouble).

Ewell is crude and vulgar, seen as he answers the prosecuting attorney's questions.

Mayella was screamin' fit to beat Jesus—

He is ultimately warned by the judge to watch his mouth. Ewell's behavior shows him to enjoy disrupting the court proceedings in order to make his point, but I think he also takes pleasure in the power he exerts over the proceedings and the attention he receives.

Mr. Ewell was sitting smugly in the witness chair, surveying his handiwork.

It is implied that Mayella was beaten by someone left-handed; learning through Atticus' questions and Ewell's demonstration of his writing (with his left hand), the reader realizes that Bob Ewell has probably not only struck his daughter, but lied about doing it.

Mayella does not take the stand in this chapter, but the fact that she is supporting her father's accusations against Tom Robinson tells us a great deal about her. Believing that Bob Ewell was probably the left-handed person who beat her, we can assume that she has been physically abused in the past and is probably scared to death of her dad. Her willingness to support Mr. Ewell's accusations in the charging of Tom Robinson for her rape, shows Mayella also to be a liar (although his violent behavior toward her makes her actions understandable, though not admirable).

Through direct and indirect characterization, we find Mayella to be a frightened young girl who has lied about Tom Robinson's actions, and Bob Ewell to be an arrogant, drunken, violent, disrespectful man who has lied about what he says he saw Tom Robinson doing to Mayella.

In chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, how does the author characterize the Ewells, especially Bob Ewell?

In Harper Lee's classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, she does an excellent job of incorporating multiple literary devices in order to provide detailed characterizations.  Lee's descriptions of Bob Ewell and his family, including Mayella, include examples of metaphor, imagery, exaggeration, dialect, and other literary devices.  Because Lee provides such thorough descriptions of the Ewells, the reader is able to imagine a very clear mental picture of the characters and react more strongly to the story than if he or she felt no connection to those characters.  By making the Ewells human (albeit unattractively so), the reader is compelled to form a personal opinion of those characters and what they represent.

Lee describes Bob Ewell as "a little bantam cock of a man," which is a metaphor used to assist the reader in imagining his mannerisms and attitude.  When the author says that Bob "had no chin," she is clearly exaggerating (maybe not greatly, but at least somewhat).  By giving the Ewells Southern dialect that would have been used uneducated and poor members of Maycomb society, as well as adding examples of crude subject content, Lee causes the reader to form a negative mental picture and opinion of the family, particularly Bob, who attempts to seek attention in seemingly all but the appropriate ways.

In chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, how does the author characterize the Ewells, especially Bob Ewell?

First, the author uses figurative language to describe Bob Ewell:

a little bantam cock of a man rose and strutted to the stand, the back of his neck reddening at the sound of his name. When he turned around to take the oath, we saw that his face was as red as his neck. We also saw no resemblance to his namesake. A shock of wispy newwashed hair stood up from his forehead; his nose was thin, pointed, and shiny; he had no chin to speak of—it seemed to be part of his crepey neck.

The first part of this passage illustrates the use of an extended metaphor as Bob is repeatedly referred to as if he was indeed a chicken. All the bolded words contribute to the metaphor. The italicized language demonstrates imagery or the sensory detail of sight.

No economic fluctuations changed their status—people like the Ewells lived as guests of the county in prosperity as well as in the depths of a depression. No truant officers could keep their numerous offspring in school; no public health officer could free them from congenital defects, various worms, and the diseases indigenous to filthy surroundings.

Here the author uses paralellism in the lines that are bolded. Parallelism is a rhetorical device that uses similar grammatical structures to create a rhythym.

What do we learn from Bob Ewell's evidence in chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Ewell signs his guilt and Tom's innocence when he writes with his left hand.

In spite of such flagrant proof, Tom Robinson has been already condemned as "guilty" simply because he is black.

It does not seem to matter that an innocent man is to be convicted and condemned for a crime he obviously didn't commit. What matters is the white community's solidarity at "saving face" when a white woman's reputation is at stake, for it is better to defend her interests than those of a Negro, a second-class citizen.

The absurdity of such a mock trial and the hypocrisy of the verdict (in light of such proof) portray the injustice of the whole legal system of the time.

What is Bob Ewell's response to the verdict in chapter 22 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob's spitting in Atticus's face is not the only response he has to the trial. Harper Lee reveals one short fact at the very end of chapter 22 in an effort to entice the reader into finding out the details of the encounter in chapter 23. As far as chapter 22 is concerned, the only response that Bob Ewell has to the trial is to spit in Atticus's face and threaten that he would "get him if it took the rest of his life" (217). However, if one reads into chapter 23 as driven by the cliffhanger at the end of chapter 22, more reactions by Bob Ewell come out one at a time. For example, according to Stephanie Crawford in chapter 23, Bob apparently said that he would kill Atticus. Both threats are scary to consider, but Atticus doesn't put much stock in them. He merely says that he wishes that Bob wouldn't chew tobacco. Jem and Scout also learn that Bob Ewell provoked Atticus to fight by saying, "Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin' bastard?" Atticus responded by saying, "No, too old" and walked away (217). 

Then, chapter 27 reveals that spitting in Atticus's face is not Bob Ewell's only response. First, he intimidates and harasses Tom's widow Helen; next, he spooks Judge Taylor by creeping around his house and slashing his back screen door on a Sunday night; and eventually, he attacks Jem and Scout on Halloween night, about three months after the trial. Bob Ewell holds the strongest grudge after the trial because Atticus didn't just roll over and accept his lies about Tom Robinson as facts. As a result of Bob Ewell not being able to get over his grudge, his responses to the trial lead him straight to his own death in chapter 28.

What three actions of Bob Ewell in chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird alarm Aunt Alexandra?

In To Kill A Mockingbird, it seems that the residents of Maycomb County do not learn from their own mistakes. Tom Robinson, an innocent man, has been tried and convicted and is dead. Scout, the narrator, recalling the events, recognizes the hypocrisy of the locals and asks Jem in chapter 26 how it is possible to "hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home?" She has learned from her father, Atticus, not to judge others and yet she sees people being unnecessarily unkind. Atticus hopes she understands from everything that he has taught her that people have "blind spots" which prevent them from being rational and fair. She knows that she should not judge them however because as early as chapter 3, Atticus told her that "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view." It seems the Maycomb residents do not share this opinion or Atticus's integrity. 

Bob Ewell is Mayella's father and is a poor role model. He does not care for his children and it is his apparent beating of Mayella that started the tragic turn of events and led to Tom's death after Tom had felt sorry for Mayella and been blamed for her assault and accused of rape. In chapter 27 Bob Ewell has been given a job by the WPA (the Works Progress Administration), an organization set up to ease unemployment and to help the otherwise jobless perform functional tasks and works. His enthusiasm is short-lived and it is significant and ironic that he loses a job created to help him and people like him. He lasts less than a week and blames everyone else and especially Atticus for his misfortune. 

Another significant occurrence is how Judge Taylor deals with a prowler at his home one Sunday night. Presumably the would-be burglar thought no one was home. The judge takes it in his stride but sits with his shotgun across his lap. He does not get a good look at the "visitor" but seems unperturbed. He is certainly prepared to act against the intruder who is assumed to be Bob Ewell.  

Scout also tells the reader how Maycomb residents soon forgot about Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell and even Boo Radley. Tom's employer (Link Deas) however gives Tom's widow a job even though he doesn't really need her assistance. Bob Ewell makes Helen Robinson feel afraid as he follows her and berates her and it is necessary for Mr. Link Deas to intervene on her behalf.

It is Bob Ewell's behavior which alarms Aunt Alexandra. He loses his job and blames Atticus. He sneaks around at the Judge's home in the dark and he threatens Tom's widow Helen. It seems that even though his daughter won in court, he holds a grudge against the people who tried to do the right thing. He is apparently bitter because, as Atticus points out to Aunt Alexandra, "He thought he’d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was… was, okay, we’ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump."  

What three actions of Bob Ewell in chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird alarm Aunt Alexandra?

Bob Ewell openly threatens Atticus' family after Tom Robinson is acquitted.  Bob Ewell spat upon Atticus and threatened revenge.

Bob's comments about Tom Robinson's death were very alarming: "one down and about 2 more to go" is a veiled threat toward Atticus and others who might have taken Tom's side in the case.

He threatens Tom Robinson's widow to the point that her employer has to "pay him a visit" and threaten to involve the law.

What three incidents in Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird reveal more about Bob Ewell?

In chapter 27, Scout mentions that the first strange thing indirectly involving her father was Bob Ewell acquiring and losing his job from the WPA for laziness. Upon being fired, Bob Ewell blames Atticus for "getting his job."

The second strange incident that occurred took place on a Sunday night at Judge Taylor's home. It is implied that Bob Ewell attempted to sneak into Judge Taylor's home but fled before he could be identified.

The third incident that took place involved Helen Robinson. Bob Ewell began to harass and threaten Helen Robinson on her walk to work. Bob even followed Helen all the way to work one morning "crooning foul words" at her. Mr. Link Deas was forced to defend Helen Robinson and threatened to have Bob arrested for harassing his employee. When Aunt Alexandra insists that Bob Ewell has a running grudge with everyone involved in the case, Atticus demonstrates his tolerant, sympathetic nature by saying,

It might be because he [Bob Ewell] knows in his heart that very few people in Maycomb really believed his and Mayella’s yarns. He thought he’d be a hero, but all he got for his pain was . . . was, okay, we’ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump. He’s had his fling with about everybody now, so he ought to be satisfied. He’ll settle down when the weather changes. (Lee, 255)

In addition to sympathizing with Bob Ewell and attempting to understand his motives for revenge, Atticus also reveals his positive outlook towards all of humanity by believing that Bob Ewell will settle down. Atticus naively has faith that Bob Ewell will get all of the anger out of his system when the weather changes and has hope that he will eventually come to his senses.

What three incidents involving the Ewells occur in Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird and what do they reveal about Bob Ewell?

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, the ignominious Bob Ewell takes three actions that are "out of the ordinary." These actions demonstrate Ewell's vindictive feelings toward against Atticus, Judge Taylor, and Mr. Link Deas.

1. Bob Ewell is hired and fired in a period of only a few days. Scout comments that Ewell's position "lasted only as long as his notoriety." He was hired by the WPA (the Works Progress Administration was a program begun during the Depression by President Franklin D. Roosevelt). After being fired, Ewell publicly accused Atticus Finch of "getting" his job (i.e., Atticus requested that Bob be fired in order to discredit Ewell.)
2. One Sunday evening, Bob Ewell apparently went to Judge Taylor's home with intentions of harming him. The judge was alone in his house because his wife attended church on Sunday night. When he heard a scratching sound, the judge believed his dog was doing something. But, as he looked around, he saw that the dog was absent from the room. Realizing that the sound was coming from the rear of his house, the judge rose and walked to this part of his house. As he opened his screen door, Judge Taylor got a glimpse of a shadow. When his wife returned, she found her husband in his usual position, but this time he was reading with a shotgun in his lap. Atticus explained to Alexandra that Ewell held a grudge against Judge Taylor because he made Ewell appear foolish during his time on the witness stand. The judge made certain facial expressions as Ewell fabricated his testimony and displayed his ignorance of certain words. Atticus tells his sister, "John looked at him as if he were a three-legged chicken or a square egg" (Ch.27).
3. Bob Ewell harassed Helen Robinson. After Tom Robinson's trial, Tom was taken to prison, and his family was left without support. Out of sympathy for Helen Robinson and the children, Link Deas gave her a job as his cook. However, to reach Mr. Deas's house, Helen had to walk a long way because she could not safely come up the public road without having Bob Ewell or one of his children throwing something at her. When Mr. Deas realized that Mrs. Robinson was approaching his house from the wrong direction, he demanded the reason for her actions. He then instructed her to stop by his store when she finished her work. Later, when Helen arrived, Mr. Deas escorted her home the shorter way. On his way back, Mr. Deas halted before the makeshift gate of Ewell's, calling out,

"I know every last one of you's in there....Now hear me, Bob Ewell: if I hear one more peep outa my girl Helen about not bein' able to walk this road, I'll have you in jail before sundown!" (Ch.27)

The next morning Helen went to work, using the public road. Although no one threw things at her, she realized after she had gone a short distance that Bob Ewell was following her, "crooning foul words" under his breath. When Helen reached Mr. Deas's house, she phoned him. The valiant Mr. Deas returned home and threatened to have Ewell held on charges of assault or the "Ladies' Law" if he came near Helen again. After this conversation, there were no more problems.

What three incidents involving the Ewells occur in Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird and what do they reveal about Bob Ewell?

Scout lists three things that happened: first, Ewell "acquired and lost a job in a mater of days; second, Judge Taylor suspects someone is poking around his yard in the night, with the implication that it is Ewell, and therefore pulls out a shotgun and puts it in his lap; third, Ewell harrasses Tom's widow, causing her employer to come to her defense.  We learn from these incidents that Ewell seeks revenge from those that humiliated him in the trial.

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what are Bob Ewell's actions and motivations?

Scout mentions that there were three events that seemed out of the ordinary that happened in October and involved Bob Ewell. The first thing that happened involved Bob Ewell losing his job at the WPA for laziness and blaming Atticus for getting him fired. The second thing that happened involved Judge Taylor hearing someone attempt to sneak into his house on a Sunday night. Although he did not identity Bob Ewell as the culprit, it is implied that Bob was the intruder at the back door and fled before Judge Taylor saw him. The third thing that happened involved Bob Ewell threatening Helen Robinson on her walk to work. Bob ended up following her at a distance while cursing at Helen as she walked to work. All three instances depict Bob Ewell attempting to blame and get revenge on those involved and indirectly involved in the Tom Robinson trial. Bob Ewell was clearly embarrassed when Atticus revealed the truth during the trial and attempts to get revenge on those who supported Atticus. Bob Ewell's apparently harmless actions reveal his cowardice and bitterness towards Atticus and his supporters. Bob's attempts to disturb Judge Taylor, intimidate Helen Robinson, and blame Atticus for getting him fired are his way of expressing his bitterness regarding the outcome of the trial.

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what are Bob Ewell's actions and motivations?

In Chapter 27, someone also breaks into Judge Taylor's house. Because Bob Ewell is so upset and embarrassed, we can assume that he is to blame. Additionally, the Ewell family is caught throwing rocks at Helen Robinson as she walks to work. Mr. Deas threatens Bob when this occurs, spurring Bob Ewell's anger even further.

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, what are Bob Ewell's actions and motivations?

Last sentence in the chapter:  "Mr. Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he'd get him if it took the rest of his life."  Spitting in the face is an insult; it was meant to show Ewell's contempt for him. From Ewell's point of view, Atticus insulted him but implying Ewell, not Tom, assaulted Mayella.  The subsequent threat proves true at the end of the novel when Ewell attacks Scout and Jem while walking home in the dark.

What three events involve Bob Ewell in Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Bob Ewell becomes a menace three times.

1. Bob Ewell acquires a job with the WPA, but is soon fired for his laziness. When he reports to the welfare office for a check, he claims repeatedly that Atticus Finch has cost him the job.
2. One Sunday evening Judge Taylor reads while his wife is at church. When he hears a scratching coming from the rear of his house, he thinks it is his dog who wants to go outside. But, when he goes to the door, he finds the screen door swinging, and he notices a shadow on the corner of his house "and "that was all he saw of his visitor," who he suspects is Bob Ewell.
3. When Helen Robinson walks down the public road to work for Mr. Link Deas, someone at the Ewells "chunked at her." After Mr. Deas threatens to report Ewell to the authorities, Bob Ewell walks behind Helen on the road, muttering foul words. When Mr. Deas comes out of his store, Ewell, who is leaning on the link fence, yells, "Don't you look at me, Link Deas, like I was dirt. I ain't jumped your---" Mr. Deas threatens again to involve the law if Ewell continues to bother Helen.

When Aunt Alexandra remarks that Bob Ewell seems to have a "permanent running grudge against everybody connected with the case," Atticus remarks that Ewell probably thought "he'd be a hero," but he really did not acquire any respect from anyone. He managed to get Tom convicted, but that was all. However, Atticus mistakenly believes that Ewell will "settle down when the weather changes."

Describe Bob Ewell's attack on Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Bob Ewell is by far the most despicable man in Maycomb and ends up severely beating his daughter after he witnesses her kiss Tom Robinson on the evening of November 21. In order to conceal her actions and cover up his crime, Bob forces Mayella to accuse Tom Robinson of assaulting and raping her, and they both lie on the witness stand during the trial. Although Bob wins the case and Tom becomes a victim of racial injustice, Atticus reveals the truth, and the entire town knows that Bob Ewell was his daughter's perpetrator. Instead of becoming a hero, Bob Ewell is embarrassed and vows to get revenge on Atticus. After threatening Atticus, spitting in his face, and attempting to intimidate Helen Robinson, Bob Ewell attacks Atticus's defenseless children in chapter 28 while they are walking home from the Maycomb Halloween festival.

Initially, the children can sense that someone is following them and believe that it is only Cecil Jacobs attempting to scare them. Suddenly, Bob attacks, and Jem yells for Scout to run. Scout is immediately thrown to the ground and struggles to escape her costume made of chicken wire. Scout then hears the sound of scuffling feet and kicking shoes before she feels Jem attempt to pull her away. As they are running towards the road, she feels Jem's body jerk back and the sound of his arm break. When Scout runs in the direction of her brother, Bob grabs her and begins squeezing her tightly. Boo Radley then comes to their rescue and pulls Bob away from Scout before he stabs and kills him. Once the scuffle is over, Scout witnesses Boo carrying her unconscious brother home.

What are three quotes describing Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus Finch rarely makes negative comments about anyone in To Kill a Mockingbird, but early in the story he reveals that the Ewell family has been

... the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.

During the trial, Bob identifies Tom by pointing at him and telling the Judge

"--I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella."

Atticus's queries of Mayella brought out many facts about Bob that had not been uncovered during the prosecutor's questioning. Scout, and the jury, learned that Bob's

... relief check was far from enough to feed the family, and there was strong suspicion that Papa drank it up anyway--he sometimes went off in the swamp for days and came home sick... the younger children had perpetual colds and suffered from chronic ground-itch...

After Bob has spit in his face, Atticus tries to explain to Jem that the man had little recourse.

"I destroyed his last bit of credibility at the trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that's something I'll gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody, and I'd rather it be me than that household of children out there."

Bob was not through with his harrassment, however. After learning of Tom Robinson's death, Bob stated that

... it made one down and about two more to go.

After losing his job with the WPA "for laziness," he blamed Atticus for it. After attempting to break into Judge Taylor's house, he turned his attentions to Tom's widow, who he stalked and frightened, "crooning foul words" as he followed her. After Bob's death, Sheriff Tate claimed that Boo's rescue of the children and killing of Bob was "a great service."

How would you describe the character Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus, who rarely has a bad word to say about anyone, refers to the Ewell family as

... the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.

Bob is certainly the most evil character in the novel: Crude, rude and completely socially unacceptable, he beats his daughter (and possibly even has sexual relations with her); fails to provide for his children or see that they go to school; drinks up his paycheck; falsely accuses a man of a capital crime which leads to Tom's death; stalks Tom's wife, Helen, and croons "foul words" to her; threatens to kill Atticus; and, eventually, tries to kill Atticus's children.

Robert E. Lee Ewell is named after the South's greatest hero, but he certainly does not honor the name: "We also saw no resemblance to his namesake." Scout describes Bob as a "little bantam cock of a man" who "strutted" to the witness stand at the trial. His

... face was as red as his neck.

He was a "little man" who had apparently taken a rare bath for the occasion, since it was the only thing

... that made him any better than his nearest neighbors... if scrubbed with lye soap in very hot water, his skin was white.

He had

... wispy new-washed hair... his nose was thin, pointed and shiny; he had no chin to speak of...

He chews tobacco, as Atticus finds out the hard way; and he often smells of alcohol, as Scout notes when they are attacked on Halloween night. Racist, angry and hateful to nearly everyone he encounters, Bob is the epitome of "trash."

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what are four words to describe Bob Ewell's actions?

1.  Prideful:  When Bob Ewell walks up to the stand to testify, Lee describes him as "a little bantam cock of a man," which is comparing him to a strutting rooster, who is there to prove his territory, to stake his claim, and to proudly declare the courtroom his-just like a rooster who struts around the henyard declaring his is the master of that realm.  He confidently answers most questions, even being disrespectful, calling his lawyer "cap'n".  He is so confident and prideful that he will win the case, that he knows he can do or say what he wants.

2.  Lazy:  in the second paragraph of chapter 27, we find out that Bob

"acquired and lost a job in a matter of days...and he was the only man I have ever heard of who was fired from the WPA for laziness."

He couldn't even hold a job that was given to him out of pity.

3.  Vengeful:  since his pride was wounded in court, because Atticus made it quite clear what a scoundrel he was (even though he won the case), Bob's pride was wounded.  In the beginning of chapter 23, Bob walked up to Atticus and "cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him."  So, he is vengeful and threatening to Atticus, and later follows through on these threats when he attacks Jem and Scout.

4.  Drunk and Abusive:  through Mayella's testimony in chapter 18, even though she tries to hide it, it becomes quite apparent that her dad is a lousy drunk, and abusive to the children.  She almost slips up and says that Bob is "tollable, 'cept when-" and was probably going to say, "when he's drinking, because then he gets mean and beats us," but she stopped herself in time.

I hope that those words and quotes can get you started.  Good luck!

What three threats does Bob Ewell make against Maycomb townspeople in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Not only is Bob Ewell’s creepy presence enough to make many people careful around him, he also makes some threats after the trial.  He is heard saying, “One down, two to go,” when he learns of Tom’s death; this implies that now that Tom Robinson is out of the way, he will go after two more people.  As readers, we assume that he will carry out some vengeance against Atticus, Heck Tate, or Judge Taylor because of how they disgraced him during the trial.  However, Atticus, Heck, and the Judge are powerful men, and if we know anything about Bob Ewell, we know that he is a coward who preys on the weak.  He abuses his children and blames others for his misfortunes.  Atticus does seem to be somewhat alarmed enough by Bob Ewell and the sentiment of many in the community that he asks Aunt Alexandra to come stay with the children during the trial. 

After the trial, Bob Ewell also threatens Helen Robinson by stalking her and cussing at her.  In addition, he tries to break into Judge Taylor’s back door one night, and he spits in Atticus’ face.

In the end, we know that the “two” he was after were Scout and Jem.  Bob Ewell is not man enough to confront Atticus and instead seeks revenge against Atticus through his weak and innocent children.

What three threats does Bob Ewell make against Maycomb townspeople in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob Ewell was actually pretty careful not to make specific threats in To Kill a Mockingbird. Although his intentions were obviously hateful, Bob was somewhat discreet when it came to publicly announcing them.

• Shortly after the trial, Bob met up with Atticus and spit in his face. According to Miss Stephanie, "Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him and threatened to kill him."
• After Bob lost his WPA job, he "openly accused Atticus of getting his job," although there was no specific threat uttered.
• Bob later harrassed Helen Robinson, "crooning foul words" at her as he followed her down the road.

How would you describe Bob Ewell's behavior and comments in court in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob Ewell is on the witness stand in chapter 17, and he acts as if all he had to do that morning was show up in order to win the case against Tom Robinson. Bob Ewell is so arrogant that when his attorney, Mr. Gilmer, asks his name, Ewell flippantly remarks, "That's m'name, cap'n" (171). Mr. Gilmer is taken aback by how informally Ewell responds. It's as if this is just a game to him, which helps to point out that he is arrogant as well as uncivilized and uneducated. 

Mr. Ewell doesn't answer so honorably to the next question, either. When asked if he is the father of Mayella Ewell, he responds disrespectfully with, "Well, if I ain't I can't do nothing about it now, her ma's dead" (172). Apparently Mr. Ewell thinks he's on stage for a comedy routine rather than at the witness stand for a very serious case. 

Next, Atticus asks Mr. Ewell why he didn't get a doctor for Mayella on the day she was beaten and raped. Mr. Ewell responds that he's never called a doctor in his life and it would have cost him five dollars (175). Then, before Atticus gets to ask another question, Mr. Ewell asks if he's done. Again, this shows that not only is he not educated enough to understand what a cross-examination is, he thinks all he had to do was show up that day and the case would be won.

Finally, when Atticus eventually paints him into a corner with questions, Ewell gets angry and claims Atticus is the bad guy! He says Atticus has taken advantage of him. Then he won't stop retelling his story over and over again until he is excused. Angry people who are caught in lies usually turn the blame back on the other person to avoid responsibility for their words and actions, and that's just what Ewell does. He proves himself to be a liar, an abusive father, and a racist while on the witness stand.

How would you describe Bob Ewell's behavior and comments in court in To Kill a Mockingbird?

For writing a character description, you must identify many adjectives that describe a character and then provide the evidence of those descriptors.

For example, Bob Ewell is:

DUMB: Atticus easily proved that Bob was illiterate, and then that he had a limited understanding of vocabulary by positioning him to talk about what hand was his dominant hand.

CARELESS: Bob did not care enough about his daughter to call for a doctor when she was allegedly raped. A doctor could have not only attended to her pain, but confirmed the rape and helped provide evidence.

DIRTY: The scalded color of his skin revealed to a watching audience that this was a man who didn't bathe much. Not only does this suggest a hygiene problem, but it suggests a lifestyle of dirty in many other meanings of the word, like underhanded and corrupt.

How would you describe Bob Ewell's attitude on the witness stand in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob Ewell's attitude on the witness stand is challenging and disrespectful of the law, as evidenced by his inflammatory use of the word "rape" to describe what he claims he saw Tom Robinson doing to his daughter and his attempts to play with language during a serious law proceeding.

At this point in time, the word "rape" was not a word heard in conversation amongst polite company, and Bob uses the shock value of this word to alarm and upset the people of Maycomb watching the trial. As well, by using such harsh language to accuse Tom out loud in a court of law, he is attempting to manipulate the system but setting up a negative feeling towards Tom that is impossible to undo.

Once Bob has seen the horrified reaction of the people in the courtroom, Bob is ready to get off the stand, so he is unprepared for Atticus's questioning. He is suspicious of Atticus, but Bob thinks he can outsmart him and he tries to amuse his audience. When Atticus shows that Bob is left-handed, Bob gets very angry and claims that he is the one who has been taken advantage of, speaking out of turn to the judge and revealing Bob's overall disrespect of Atticus and the trial itself.

Bob may have acted this way out of his anger and resentment towards Atticus, who is educated and better-off, or he may have acted this way to try and distract others from his role in his daughter's suffering. Perhaps Bob feels like he rarely has an audience, and because he doesn't get much attention, he couldn't help himself when he was trial and he did everything he could to get even more attention. Whatever Bob's reason, the fact of his disrespect remains.

What does Bob Ewell's name, referencing Robert E. Lee, symbolize in To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird, Bob Ewell is the personification of poor white trash.  He is too ignorant and too lazy to hold down a respectable job, and he spews racist invective with the ease of a seasoned veteran of the Ku Klux Klan.  When he is called to testify in the rape trial of Tom Robinson, he proudly proclaims his moral connection to the American South and the Confederacy that went to war rather than succumb to abolition.  When instructed to identify himself for the benefit of the jury, Ewell responds as described in the following passage by Lee's youthful, innocent narrator, Scout:

"All the spectators were as relaxed as Judge Taylor, except Jem. His mouth was twisted into a purposeful half-grin, and his eyes happy about, and he said something about corroborating evidence, which made me sure he was showing off. '…Robert E. Lee Ewell!'"

By naming her primary antagonist after the most prominent general of the Confederate Army, Lee is drawing that connection between the fight to preserve the institution of slavery and the racial attitudes that continued to survive well-into the 20th century.

What does Bob Ewell's name, referencing Robert E. Lee, symbolize in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob Ewell’s full name, Robert E. Lee Ewell, is symbolic because Ewell is a racist like his namesake.

Robert E. Lee was a Civil War general on the Confederate side.  Since the Confederates mostly represented southern slave states, the name is symbolic of the racism that Bob Ewell embodies.

The Civil War is very important to Maycomb culture.  Most people can trace their families back to it, including the Finches.

Cousin Ike Finch was Maycomb County's sole surviving Confederate veteran. He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain. (ch 9)

In fact, the Civil War is so important to the South that many are still fighting it, in their own way. 

The tribe of which Burris Ewell and his brethren consisted had lived on the same plot of earth behind the Maycomb dump, and had thrived on county welfare money for three generations. (ch 13)

Ewell is not a veteran of the Civil War, but clearly his family considers Lee important enough to name him after him.

Summarize Bob Ewell's interpretation of the incident in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Mr. Gilmer starts first with his questions. Bob Ewell gives his version of the story regarding the assault on Mayella. Bob claims that on November 21st, he was carrying firewood back to the house when he heard Mayella screaming. He adds that he dropped the wood and arrived to find Tom Robinson "ruttin'" (sexually assaulting) Mayella. Bob then claims he ran around the house only to see Tom run out of the front door ahead of him. He then ran to get Heck Tate, the sheriff. 

When Atticus questions him, he asks if he agrees with Heck Tate's testimony. Bob Ewell says that he does. This is where Atticus begins to expose Bob Ewell's lies. Heck Tate said that it was Mayella's right eye which was injured. Therefore, it would be more likely that a left-handed man attacked her. Bob Ewell is left-handed and Tom Robinson's left hand is virtually useless due to an accident with a cotton gin. Jem recognizes (and Scout begins to catch on) that Atticus is trying to show how it was more likely that Bob Ewell was the attacker. 

Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, “We’ve got him.” 

I didn’t think so: Atticus was trying to show, it seemed to me, that Mr. Ewell could have beaten up Mayella. That much I could follow. 

What are three words and quotes to describe Bob Ewell's hopes in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Although he doesn't outright say it, Bob Ewell is so angry about his situation in the town that we can assume his hope is to rise above his poverty and disgrace.  He must hope to be a more respected member of the community, making his three words:  respect, honor, dignity.   And also money - he certainly hates being stuck in poverty.

Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day's work in his recollection. He said that some Christmas, when he was getting rid of the tree, he would take me with him and show me where and how they lived. They were people, but they lived like animals.

The above quote demonstrates the need for Bob Ewell to better himself.  It sets up why the man might hope so much for respect and dignity.

Mr. Ewell was sitting smugly in the witness chair, surveying his handiwork. With one phrase he had turned happy picknickers into a sulky, tense, murmuring crowd, being slowly hypnotized by gavel taps lessening in intensity until the only sound in the courtroom was a dim pink-pink-pink: the judge might have been rapping the bench with a pencil.

This demonstrates how much Bob Ewell is responding to being listened to.  He is enjoying the attention, which in his mind translates to respect.

It was becoming evident that he thought Atticus an easy match. He seemed to grow ruddy again; his chest swelled, and once more he was a red little rooster. I thought he'd burst his shirt at Atticus's next question: "Mr. Ewell, can you read and write?" ..."I most positively can." "Will you write your name and show us?" "I most positively will. How do you think I sign my relief checks?" Mr. Ewell was endearing himself to his fellow citizens.

Similarly to the last quote, Mr. Ewell is swelling up because he believes that the attention of the crowd is showing him to be a better man than Atticus, a respected lawyer in town, and he is filling with pride as a result.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what Bob Ewell's quotes towards the Finch family depict his evil personality?

During the trial, Bob Ewell is kept firmly in place by the presence of Judge Taylor, who instructs him to "keep [his] testimony within the confines of Christian English usage, if that is possible." He doesn't get much opportunity to threaten the Finch family there.

Although the Ewells are successful in sending Tom Robinson to jail without any cause, Bob Ewell is not happy with the outcome because Atticus, through his unwavering perseverance for justice, has shown that the Ewells are lying.

Not long after the trial, Miss Stephanie is a bit too excited to share with the Finch children that Bob Ewell has stopped their father on the street, spit in his face, and threatened revenge "if it took the rest of his life." Although the reader receives this information indirectly, it seems to be accurate because the children go straight to Atticus to ask him about it. Atticus tells them that this is true and that he believes Bob Ewell meant what he'd said. However, Atticus says that if he has saved Mayella from a beating by taking some of Bob's venom, he is glad to take it. The contrast between Atticus and Bob is striking here.

The full portrait of Bob's evil lies in the fact that he follows through on his threats. While he doesn't come after Atticus directly, he does try to murder his children. Atticus believed Bob's evil threats but likely thought Bob's evil revenge would be directed at him—not at his innocent children.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what Bob Ewell's quotes towards the Finch family depict his evil personality?

The only member of the Finch family that Bob threatens is Atticus. In Chapter 23, Stephanie Crawford tells the story of how Bob Ewell spat in Atticus' face and threatened him. As Atticus is leaving the post office, Bob Ewell stops him and begins cursing at him. Bob then spits in Atticus' face and threatens to kill him. Atticus remains calm as Bob continues to call him derogatory names and tries to intimidate him. Bob then asks Atticus if he is trying to fight and calls him a "nigger-lovin' bastard" (Lee 134). Atticus tells Bob that he is too old to fight and simply walks away. Following the incident, Jem and Scout begin to fear for their father's safety, but Atticus assures them that Bob Ewell got all of his hate out that day at the post office. Although Bob does not threaten Atticus' children, he does attempt to murder them towards the end of the novel.

Where does Bob Ewell express his hatred for black people in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Bob Ewell doesn't have to explicitly state this as his actions make his hatred clear. First, he has brought false charges against Tom Robinson (who is proven innocent by Atticus although not by the court) claiming Tom has raped his daughter, Mayella. Tom's only crime was stopping to help a girl in need, but Bob is a racist man who wants Tom punished for daring to assist a white person.

Bob yells racial slurs about Tom in the courtroom and when he is questioned about going to get help for Mayella on the night in question, he comments,

“Why, I run for Tate quick as I could. I knowed who it was, all right, lived down yonder in that n*****-nest, passe the house every day. Jedge, I've asked this county for fifteen year to clean out that nest down yonder, they're dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property—“

These are perhaps the most racist remarks Bob makes on the stand. The "they" in question is Tom's family, whom Bob (a man who cannot even provide adequate shelter and food for his own children) claims is "devaluing" his own property. To claim that the presence of any race of people lessens one's property value simply by existing in the same area reveals a heart of hatred. This is also evident in his use of the word "nest" to describe Tom's house and property, associating Tom with an animal. He claims Tom and his family are "dangerous," though there is absolutely no evidence that they have been anything but kind and compassionate to a young, neglected girl—who just happens to be Bob's daughter.

Bob has instructed his daughter in racial hatred well, as she lies on the stand about Tom, just like her father. Bob's heart is full of hate and evil intentions, and much of this spills over onto an innocent man.

Where does Bob Ewell express his hatred for black people in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Often the diction of people indicates their feelings, rather than any overt declaration. Such is the case with Bob Ewell.

When he is on the witness stand in Chapter 17, Ewell claims that he heard his daughter screaming and he ran to the window of his house only to discover "that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella." Here, Ewell's use of a most pejorative term indicates his attitude toward African Americans. Certainly, the black people in the balcony recognize the hateful use of a degrading term from Ewell as "there was an angry muffled groan from the colored people," Scout narrates.

Then, in Chapter 23, as Atticus was leaving the post office, Bob Ewell spits in his face. When Atticus wipes his face with his handkerchief, Ewell asks, "Too proud to fight, you nigger-lovin' bastard?" but Atticus answers, "No, too old." Here Ewell's diction and its implication suggest that there is something terribly wrong with Atticus for wanting to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, whom Ewell has made the scapegoat for his daughter's behavior of which he disapproves.

What are some character traits of Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Please note: page numbers vary by edition so chapter numbers are provided here.

Robert E. Lee Ewell—known as Bob—is an unhappy, bitter man who takes out his frustrations on other people, sometimes resorting to intimidation, verbal abuse, and even violence. He is a racist and a bully who attacks even children. Despite achieving his goal when the jury convicts Tom Robinson, Ewell is vindictive and resents Atticus Finch for having defended him.

Ewell is described in a conversation between Calpurnia and Scout in chapter 12 which occurs in response to Scout’s many questions about Tom Robinson when they attend Calpurnia’s church. Calpurnia is the first to use the term “rape” in explaining the accusations when she says that “Old Mr. Bob Ewell accused him of rapin’ his girl.’” Scout interrupts and asks if the Ewells are related to children she knows who do not attend school, repeating her father’s assessment that “they were absolute trash.’”

Scout sees Bob Ewell for the first time in the courthouse when he is called to the witness stand during Tom Robinson’s trial (chapter 17). She describes him as “a little bantam-cock of a man… [who] strutted to the stand.” Scout also describes their residence as “filthy surroundings” behind the town dump. When the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, begins his questioning, Bob’s contempt for authority is apparent in his initial joking answers. When he settles into his damaging testimony, he incites the public by pointing to Tom and using the N-word while accusing him of sexually assaulting his daughter Mayella. He “smugly” appreciates the reaction he causes. During Atticus’s cross-examination, Bob continues to appear smug, further reminding Scout of “a red little rooster.” However, his attitude changes after Atticus gets him to write his name and “he turn[s] angrily to the judge.” This public humiliation sows the seed of his resentment toward Atticus.

Ewell appears at the end of chapter 23, when Stephanie Crawford reports to the Finch household that he spat on Atticus in the street and “told him he’d get him if it took the rest of his life.” At the beginning of chapter 24, Atticus refuses to get upset, saying only that he wishes Ewell didn't chew tobacco.

In chapter 27, Ewell’s resentment is demonstrated in a report that Scout hears about him losing a job: Ewell blames this loss on Atticus. Ewell is unique, Scout claims, in getting “fired from the WPA for laziness.” He apparently grumbles about Atticus and the town authorities, calling them “bastards” who keep him, “an honest man,” from working. People suspect but cannot prove that he is lurking outside Judge Taylor’s house. Scout also describes Ewell harassing Helen Robinson, Tom’s widow; her employer, Link Deas, intervenes to stop him so that Helen can walk to work. Ewell walks at a distance behind her, softly “crooning foul words.”

Atticus summarizes Ewell’s frustration with Maycomb, telling his sister that Bob had “thought he’d be a hero”; despite Tom’s conviction, the town still looked down on him, effectively saying, “get back to your dump.”

In chapter 29, Ewell turns up dead after he attacks Scout and Jem. Sheriff Tate dismisses his death as an accident, stresses to Atticus that Ewell was a coward for targeting the children, and observes that Ewell only had “guts enough” to bother Calpurnia and lurk outside the judge’s house.

Describe the events that lead up to the death of Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Bob Ewell is angry at Atticus for making him look like a fool in front of all of Maycomb (see Ch. 24). First he spits in Atticus\'s face. Then he warns him that one person is down (Tom Robinson) but there are still about two more to go. This likely suggests Atticus and the Judge Taylor.

Next Bob is fired from the WPA - one of the only jobs he has ever had. Then Judge Taylor is home alone reading in his parlor one night when sees a shadow. He notices that someone has entered his house and finished reading with a shotgun in his lap. This was obviously Bob.

Then Bob is warned harshly be Link Deas to stop stocking Helen, Tom\'s widow.

These factors lead up to attack on Jem and Scout Halloween night. He was drunk and leaped on the kids from the trees. Boo sees this and rushes to their aid, killing Bob in the process.

When Atticus is told, he automatically assumes Jem killed Bob in the scuffle. However, Heck Tate covers up the real murderer, Boo. He says that Bob simply fell on his own knife. Here is where you have to make some inferences. Bob is dead with a kitchen knife sticking in him. But was the Bob\'s weapon?

Notice that Tate tells Atticus - when reenacting the murder - that he took the switch blade knife from a drunk man earlier (he is not lying - Bob was drunk and going after the kids with that very knife); however, if you read closely, you can infer that Boo killed him and that Tate is trying to cover things up to protect him.

What three incidents concerning Bob Ewell occur in To Kill a Mockingbird and what do they reveal about his character?

In Chapter 27 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout describes three "small things out of the ordinary" that happened in Maycomb, all three pertaining to Bob Ewell. Two out of three incidents show just exactly how much Bob Ewell is bent upon revenge due to his extremely antagonistic nature. The remaining incident paints Ewell as the sort of lazy degenerate who is completely incapable of improving his own situation.

The first incident Scout describes for us is that Bob Ewell was hired for a job through President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) but promptly lost the job "in a matter of days." In her narrative, Scout notes the following reflection she made about Ewell when she heard the news about his getting fired:

[Mr. Bob Ewell] probably made himself unique in the annals of the nineteen-thirties: he was the only man I ever heard of who was fired from the WPA for laziness. (Ch. 27)

Scout's comment about his actions underscores just how much of a lazy degenerate Ewell truly is.

The second incident Scout describes concerns Judge Taylor, who has a well-known habit of staying home from church on Sunday night. While home alone as usual, reading, he began hearing "an irritating scratching noise" coming from the back of the house. Judge Taylor went to the back porch to investigate and found the "screen door swinging open." Scout further narrates, "A shadow on the corner of the house caught his eye, and that was all he saw of his visitor." Though we don't know for certain the prowler was Bob Ewell, we can speculate it was Ewell since we know Ewell felt humiliated in Judge Taylor's court under Atticus's cross-examination; therefore, we can speculate Ewell was there to annoy Judge Taylor as a means of revenge, or he was there to carry out a more dastardly deed but lost his nerve and ran off. The fact that Ewell would attempt to intimidate or harm Judge Taylor shows us Ewell has a revengeful, antagonistic nature.