Walter Cunningham Character Analysis

The Cunninghams are a difficult group to decide whether they deserve compassion or not; it all depends on your views. When we look at their circumstances, we naturally feel bad for them. We see Walter Cunningham without lunches because his family cannot afford enough food. We learn that Mr. Cunningham repaid the Finch’s in hickory nuts for a favor that Atticus did for them. They have no money, and won’t take what they can’t repay, which is a respectable action. When we look at other things that they’ve done, like Mr. Cunningham being in the mob of men who want to kill Tom Robinson, we question how much compassion they really deserve. “I sought once more for a familiar face, and at the center of the semi-circle I found one. ‘Hey, Mr. Cunningham.’”

(Lee 204). As a young girl, Scout didn’t really understand why the mob was at the jailhouse, but as reader we knew exactly what was happening. To some, seeing Mr. Cunningham was not a surprise based on his conditions, but to others, we questioned why a good person would be associating with people like that. People who were ready to kill another human being who was falsely convicted. We know that Tom is innocent, but the protesters probably don’t. We can only assume that Mr. Cunningham was just another poor soul who grew up around men like them, and was convinced that it was the only way of thinking. Can we really blame the Cunninghams for being conditioned to believe one thing or another? They are subjected to poverty, and they don’t have a name that will get them anywhere in the town. They’re looked down upon, and are expected to act the same as any other poor family; without manners or respect. Looking past the racist mindset we briefly saw, we can tell that the Cunninghams are really trying to be good people, and are trying their hardest to work with the little things they have. From what we saw, the Cunninghams were really trying to break away from the lower class stereotype they were given.
The Ewells a really a splendid bunch; they’re an opinionated group with the ability to invoke many emotions from the readers.

Poor, ignorant, and outcasts of society. They have no respect for others nor do they care about anyone besides them. Although they are the spitting image of white trash, are all the Ewells deserving of the hatred of readers and people within the town of Maycomb? The simple answer is no. Mayella has been called a plethora of names, and not many good. But one thing is for sure, the habits she has learned and the way she was raised shouldn’t define her. “‘She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her. She is white.’” (Lee 272). In this quote, Atticus even states during his final testament that she is not the one responsible for acting as she did. She had an abusive father who forced her into the plan after beating her, she had no education and was left to care for her siblings, and she has little to no connections to the outside world. Was what she did wrong? Yes. She tempted a negro in Atticus’ words. But she did it because she was lonely. However, she is much more deserving of compassion than her father; Bob Ewell, who is, for lack of better words, the absolute scum of the Earth. He was the man responsible for the unjust imprisonment and death of Tom, he was a drunkard who beat his children, and even went out of his way to attack Scout and Jem as a form of payback. There are hundreds of examples throughout the book that can

be used to prove Bob Ewell is the most foul excuse for a human being. Most people in Maycomb, as well as any reader, can confirm that Bob Ewell is the least deserving of compassion.
As a naturally compassionate and caring species, we feel bad for those in unfortunate situations.

We may feel bad for the poor community in To Kill a Mockingbird, but we know what they truly deserve. The biggest lesson we have learned here today is that not all those who are looked down upon are undeserving of kindness, and not all of those we pity are deserving of others’ compassion. The characters who have proven this to be true are Boo Radley, the Cunninghams, and the Ewells. Even though the poor community is believed to have lower expectations than the rest of the community, most shouldn’t be looked down upon for what they can’t

help.