Essay On Bob Ewell In To Kill A Mockingbird

“To Kill A Mockingbird” is a classic novel of modern American literature that was published in 1960. Author Harper Lee loosely based the plot and characters of the story on her childhood. Bob Ewell, the main antagonist of the novel, is a drunken white man who lives off of welfare. He and his family are the eyesore of Maycomb. In “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Harper Lee illustrates the flaws of Maycomb, a small southern town in the 1930’s, as well as society through the character of Bob Ewell.

In her novel, Harper Lee illustrates the vitriolic effects of racism. Bob Ewell shows that racism is kept alive through ignorance and a lack of empathy. Ewell goes as far as to lie and say that Tom Robinson, a black man, beat up and raped his daughter Mayella. He claims this largely due to the fact that a black man had relations with his daughter. This, in his eyes, is enough reason to put Tom in prison or even death row. Ewell’s contempt toward Tom, a man of color, is based on his appearance rather than his actions, which

As mentioned earlier, Bob Ewell blatantly lies about Tom’s actions several times throughout the trial, which ultimately results in Tom’s death. Even if Bob did not directly kill Tom, the blood is most certainly on his hands. Mr. Ewell’s actions clearly show how hatred and prejudice can drive anyone to extreme measures, such as lying so an innocent man will die. To get revenge on Atticus for defending Tom, Ewell attempts to kill Jem and Scout. If Boo Radley did not intercede, Ewell would have been successful. Here, Ewell demonstrates how desire for revenge can lead to one performing some of the most twisted acts. Ewell makes it obvious that prejudice, hatred, and a desire for revenge are able to propel far too many people to extreme measures. In both past and present, so many people find the coldness and cruelty needed to murder a fellow human being, just as Bob Ewell