To Kill A Mockingbird Bob Ewell Character Traits

Character Analysis of Mr. Bob Ewell

Bob Ewell is an intriguing, yet disturbing character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. He displays several qualities that make him the interesting character that he is, and has similar ideas towards other races as other white folks in Maycomb. Bob Ewell begins to display his racism and his uncaring and an unlawful/unjust attitude towards specific families and people later in the book. He demonstrates his unjustly attitude when he Ewell harasses Helen Robinson, believing he has the right to disturb her, a negro since he a white. In addition to Mr. Ewells racism he is aggressive. Harper Lee does a straightforward way of demonstrating Mr. Ewell’s aggression against Atticus. In the novel Mr. Ewell spits,

curses, and threatens Atticus with his life. Lastly, another large component of who Mr. Ewell is, is his irresponsibility, and has sluggish ways of living. He is constantly drinking, and not doing a single iota of labor around the house that consists of eight children. This essay will show that Mr. Bob Ewell possesses the three qualities just mentioned and how he came to be into being classified or opinionated into these characteristic traits.
Bob Ewell’s possesses many negative qualities, his first character trait is racist, with uncaring, and unjust attitude towards negroes.

In the book his unlawful trait and racist opinion had “forced” his mind to twist his testimony, on Mayella’s supposed ‘rape” case against Tom, a negro. He claimed he quote on quote “saw” Tom on Mayella. Mr Ewell claimed in his testimony that “ I was looking in the woods looking for kidlin, and as I got to the fence I heard Mayella screamin’ like a stuck hog inside the house, I dropped m’ load and ran as fast to my Mayella, I ran up to the window” “ I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” (P. 196) This shows that he is dishonest, and unjust even in front of court, because he believes that even if he’s not a wealthy white man, he is still superior to blacks. Furthermore, when he concludes his testimony, some people already knew he altered the story, but as Maycomb's caste system, whites are supposed to “win”, especially against

negroes.
This defines Bob Ewell as deceiving, and a dishonest man.

It also shows he is malevolent, because he creates his own version of Mayella’s story, and he discriminates Tom, and a “nest’ of them living a few blocks away from his house and is mysterious because even though most people in Maycomb knew he was a grinch, and wanted a type of revenge towards Atticus, since Atticus was not as gullible as the jury box, so he mysteriously found him, and Jem and Scout and threatened them everytime he saw them and scared the children. From these events we see that Mr. Ewell is a disgraceful person with a dangerous side, and is a true

racist.
Mr. Bob Ewell’s second characteristic is that he is irresponsible. In the novel the narrator shows us this characteristic when he leaves entirely all the tiresome labor to his oldest daughter Mayella, while there is seven other children at home to help her and including her father Mr. Ewell, but are completely useless. This displays Mr. Bob Ewell’s insensibility, and truly is good for nothing. (p. 224) Tom Robinson refers when he went to assist Mayella he had realized the absence of the rest of the children. whenever he swings by to go to work, Mayella consistently has some sort of job for him. Mr. Gilmer asked Tom “why were you so anxious to do that woman’s chores” and with Mr. Ewell and seven children on the place boy”? and if he did this for money or from kindness.“Tom said he didn’t do it for money but for pity of her “well it looked like she didn't have anybody to help her” Tom, a negro, had helped Mayella, a white woman, out of kindness, and yet had his own job to handle while her father was off slacking and drinking, when he could be assisting Mayella. Tom pitied Mayella (a white woman) for all the work Mayella has to accomplish that her father leaves her. In addition to Mr. Ewell’s insensibility, another example of his “laziness” was when Mr. Bob Ewell was fired from the WPA for his laziness, although he needed it the most and especially during this time, known as the Depression Era. This also shows that he is irresponsible. From being fired from his only job, to support the family and not accountable for it accountable for it, to leaving his oldest daughter all the labor. Leaving Bob Ewell nothing to undertake. From these experiences one recognizes that Mr. Ewell eludes work and doesn’t sustain his family as he should, and is an unfit parental figure.
Another characteristic of the so far evil man is his aggressiveness. In the novel this becomes evident when his initiative was to attack Jem and Scout on their way home from the pageant, crept up on them ,and broke Jem’s arm. (p.298-305) “we stopped and listened, shuffle-foot had not stopped, he was running towards us with no child’s steps” said Scout. “ Run Scout, Run! Run! It was Mr. Ewell. This shows that he is belligerent, and rough because he is vindictive, and his urge for revenge has got the best of him. Furthermore, another situation that displays his aggression was when he beat up his daughter Mayella numerous times, when he’s drunk. ( p.192) Atticus asked Heck Tate about Mayella’s injuries of the night of November 21st and he told Atticus: “Her arms were bruised, and she showed me her neck, there were definite finger marks on her gullet. “Yet Mr. Bob Ewell still had the nerve to put the blame on Tom Robinson, while listening to the sheriff”. His belligerence towards Mayella in particular shows he’s unfatherly, and does not take the role of a father and contribute to the family. and yet he still wants his family to move forth onto a better life but his attitude does not help. His aggression took over his mentality. Mr. Bob Ewell had spit, cussed, and threatened Mr. Finch or Atticus, due to Atticus not being sucked into Mr. Ewell’s lie, and trap.(p248) Mr. Ewell even said “to proud to fight, you nigger-lovin’ bastard” All these factors are what creates Mr. Ewell as his own individual, a sinful man, with negative qualities.
Mr. Bob Ewell has numerous, but quite similar traits to one another. He is red necked, racist, unjust, and lethargic. Throughout the end of the book he tormented Helen Robinson, making her feel uncomfortable. Mr. Bob Ewell’s morally incorrect side is apparent when he forces Mayella to be dishonest on her Testimony as well. One comes into view with Mr. Bob Ewell’s cruelty in his and his daughter's relationship. Lastly, the reason for Mr. Ewells apathetic character is due to the fact of his belligerence towards the family, and how he wastes his time on pointless matters instead of attempting to “fix” his family and himself to a better life. He threatened Atticus with his life, and had almost had killed his own daughter. Mr. Bob Ewell’s racism, is the main character trait that is built upon his unjustly attitude, aggressiveness towards Negroes, the finches, and judge Taylor. He has no respect for others. In conclusion Mr. Bob Ewell is truly an interesting character that had gone from being pitied by the whole county, to being despised by the whole county pleased with his death. As a result Mr Ewell eventually was recognized as a disgraceful, low, hated and most certainly a profane human being.