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About racism in to kill a mockingbird
About racism in to kill a mockingbird
Times racism affected to kill a mockingbird
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I strongly presume that the reasoning behind Jem's injury was initiated by Atticus Finch, yet physically done by Bob Ewell. Bob Ewell was extremely filled with rage being that Atticus has not only defended Tom Robinson, but he had also made Bob Ewell appear as the guilty one. He wanted revenge on Atticus, and decided to attack those who were dearest to him, them being Jem and Scout. Furthermore, Bob is exceedingly racist and quite frankly, racism has lead to serious injuries and occurring problems that could've been prevented. Bob Ewell was furious and unpleased with the fact that Atticus humiliated him during Tom Robinson's Trial. According to " To Kill A Mockingbird", Atticus said to Mayella, " Is he good to you, is he easy to get along with?" Sje then replied and said, " He does tollable, 'cept when --" Atticus goes on to say, "Except when he's drinking? Mayella then nodded yes." When Bob Ewell is intoxicated, he tends to mistreat his daughter and abuse her in a sense. In the novel, Atticus then asked Mayella, "Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your Father?" Mayella had no answer." At this point of the trial, it is evident that Bob Ewell physically abuses his daughter, Mayella. In addition, He hated the fact that Atticus made Mayella and himself seem as if they were lying, …show more content…
In the novel, the author states, "Mr Bob Ewell stopped Atticus in the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he's get him if he took the rest of his life." Not only was Bob furious that Atticus mortified him, but he was also upset that he wasn't capable of intimidating Atticus. According to " To Kill A Mockingbird", the author states, " Jem hollered and I didnt hear him anymore an' the next thing- Mr. Ewell was tryin' to squeeze me to death, I reckon.." Being that Bob Ewell's threat didn't affect Atticus, he decided that killing Jem and Scout would be a satisfactory
Atticus calls up his first witness, “Bob Ewell.” He asked questions like “Would you ever beat your daughter?” and “Where you on the night of the crime?” Bob Ewell answered that he never has beaten his daughter and was somewhere else at the time of the crime. After that, he asked Bob to write his name, and Atticus not...
Bob Ewell decided to get back at Atticus for the Tom Robinson case by attacking his kids. Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem by stabbing Bob, but Heck Tate is insistent on saying that Bob fell on his knife. Atticus agrees and then explains the situation to Scout. Scout explained to him, “‘Yes sir, I understand,’ I reassured him. ‘
The town gossip, Miss Stephanie Crawford, tells Atticus’ children what she overheard in downtown Maycomb: “Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat at him, and threatened to kill him.” This shows that he is furious with Atticus that he would go so far as to curse and spit and threaten him in broad daylight where anyone could watch and hear. Atticus then explains why Bob Ewell did these horrible things: “Jem, see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes for a minute. I destroyed his last shed of credibility at the trial, if he had any 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 rather it be me than that household of child.” This explains why Atticus did nothing at the post office and will do nothing against Bob Ewell. Later, Bob realizes that Atticus is not about to do anything back at him, so he kicks it up a notch and goes after his children instead. He almost got his revenge, but Arthur Radley came and saved the children from
However during the trial, the Reverend Sykes expressed concern that Scout’s innocence needs to be preserved watching and Jem replies. “Aw hush. She doesn’t understand it, Reverend, she ain’t nine yet” (197). This evidence shows that before the trial, Scout was at least partially innocent, and Jem knows that. Harper Lee uses Jem and Scout's involvement with the trial to demonstrate how they lose their innocence. Jem and Scout lose some of their innocence when they are involved in the lynch mob. Scout says the following quote when she, Jem and Dill stumble upon the lynch mob that is trying to lynch Atticus and Tom because they are racist. “Hey, Mr. Cunningham. How’s your entailment gettin’ along… Don’t you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I’m Jean Louise Finch” (174). In a massively racist day and age, Jem and Scout are exposed to racism in the most obvious way: through a lynch mob targeting their father. This quote shows how Scout is still innocent as she comes into the situation. Scout narrates this next quote when she springs into the middle of a lynch mob and realizes how stupid she was. “There a smell of stale whiskey and pigpen about, and when I glanced around I discovered that these men were strangers” (172). This evidence shows that Scout was innocent and didn't know that the group was a lynch mob. Bob Ewell’s death had a very large impact on Jem and Scout's innocence. The sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate says the following quote after he finds Bob Ewell dead under a tree, in the woods after he attempts to kill Jem and Scout. Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder...He’s dead Mr. Finch” (p305). This quote is the moment the children are first really confronted with death. This causes them to lose their innocence because they realize that people want to kill each other sometimes and thats messed up. Scout says this when she contemplates about what happened to Bob Ewell. “I could think of nothing but Mr. Bob
Bob Ewell believes that Atticus is not a good man because he tries to stand up for Tom and the way he tries to get back at Atticus is by going after Jem and Scout on the way home from the pageant. “We were nearly to the road when I felt Jem’s hand leave me, felt him jerk backwards to the ground” (351). Jem and Scout were surprised by someone at a vulnerable time because it was dark and they were defenseless and taken by surprise.
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the most important character trait portrayed by Bob Ewell is prejudice. Throughout the book, Bob Ewell demonstrates how prejudice has been kept alive through ignorance and fear. First, by blaming Tom Robinson for beating Mayella. During the trial, Bob Ewell stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson "I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella"(84)! Bob Ewell emphasizes Tom’s race over everything else. He doesn’t care who he is as a person all he cares about is the color of his skin. Towards the end of the trial, Atticus has one last chance to prove the Ewells wrong. Atticus asks: “About your writing with your left hand, are you ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell? I most positively
Throughout the novel, Bob Ewell is profusely illustrated as an abrasive, abusive, and generally unpleasant man who hasn’t a care for his children. As Tom says when describing why he would help Mayella: “Mr. Ewell didn’t seem to help her much” (263) . In addition, Bob Ewell plays a major role as to why Mayella lies in court, in fact he makes her do so. To cover up for his own crime he says that Tom Robinson was “ruttin' on my Mayella!" (231) . The most substantive and saddening display of Mr. Ewell’s character is when Tom directly reveals the abuse taking place. In his testimony, Tom explains that his accuser threatens Mayella after seeing the two of them together (263). Even if Mayella was able to overcome the social repercussions of telling the truth, she would face the tragic domestic abuse that her father is evidently capable of. Like striving towards acceptance, resisting oppression is another example of human instinct. As following instinct is by definition natural, one must have sympathy for Mayella
Another consequence of defending Tom Robinson in court, aside from being known as a "nigger lover" and opening himself to several other forms of racial hatred from the good people of Maycomb, Atticus was also arguing against a man who was known to be a violent drunk. Bob Ewell was a frightening man and it was noble of Atticus to put himself in a position of opposing such an unstable individual. Atticus remained a gentleman when Ewell confronted him at the post office. Most men in his position would have violently lashed out at Robert E. after being spat upon. Atticus did the right thing and remained a gentleman throughout the confrontation.
“ ‘Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewell’s shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred credibility at the trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of a 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 houseful of children out there. You understand ’” (23.15) Atticus Finch had exposed the bad men in the community to his children but selflessly found room to feel sorry for Bob because of how he treats his children. The children were able to learn from Atticus by being able to understand what was being said but realize that not everyone is as fortunate as them and don't always have the moral understand like Atticus has taught them 'Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside.'" Page 227. Jem had recognized that not everyone can cope with the world they live in, being all caught up in hate, racism and distrust that it's better for people like that to stay inside, away from the horrid things of the world which is society. Adults are capable of judging and and not forgiving
Atticus Finch, an outstanding role model for any person trying to become a perfect father and outstanding citizen. Atticus’s actions differ from social norms so much that he is considered “too good to be true”. Atticus rushes home to word of a rabid dog, Atticus drops his glasses to take his shot and breaks the lens. Atticus “stooped and picked up his glasses, ground the broken lenses to powder under his heel” (80). Atticus taking the time to grind his glass lenses into powder so no one got hurt represents his astounding thoughtfulness for other people. Atticus has an outstanding ability to step back and observe his reality. Atticus while already knowing the outcome of the trial takes on the challenge and defends Tom Robinson to the best of his ability despite ridicules from the town. Atticus explains to Scout that “ In our courts when it 's a white man 's word against a black man 's, the white man always wins. They 're ugly, but those are the facts of life” (187). Atticus knowing this going into the trial shows his dedication and conscious decision-making skills unparalleled to anyone in the novel. Finally, Atticus’s ability to stay calm in intense situations perfectly develops his outstanding personality. Bob Ewell, the father of Mayella Ewell, confronts Atticus about the trial. Bob, with Atticus“ was a veteran of an obscure war which Atticus 's peaceful reaction prompted him to inquire. Too proud to fight you nigger-lovin’ bastard? Nope too old.” (185). Atticus’s calm reaction and ability to walk away from a fight develops Atticus’s character even further. Atticus corrects his mistakes, stands up for others, and controls himself in high-intensity situations. Lee Develops Atticus’s character to explain that even people with the most upstanding features and qualities, still fail. Lee does this to tie her philosophy on how people should be treated together with a
Throughout the novel we see the abusive behaviors of Bob Ewell towards people, especially to his daughter Mayella. When Bob Ewell saw what he did from the window he screamed “you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya” (Lee 198). This inferred that Bob Ewell was talking to his daughter and not Tom, who later testified that when Bob yelled this he was looking right at Mayella. Atticus also makes a case on page 127 about how no one, not even Bob, called a doctor to check on Mayella. By not calling a doctor it proved Bob Ewell was only concerned for himself, not even for the own well-being of his daughter, he was a selfish and horrible father. Also, the Ewell family was one of the lowest whites in Maycomb they had no money and no education, the children only attended the first day of school every year. Bob Ewell wanted the people of Maycomb to view them higher than they do now, but was too lazy to do it himself. Mr. Ewell believed that pinning his own abusive behaviors on Tom Robinson would make people believe he saved their town from dangerous man, and they would now think highly of him. Bob Ewells selfish behavior and poor parenting skills lead to him being a responsibility in the death of Tom
First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob’s daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time. In addition, Bob Ewell’s hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the
So much so that it would cause him great pain in years to come. Different from Jem, Saul was the target for the extreme racism that that he was forced to face. In the end, the two boys face their own problems, but while Jem is not directly affected by his struggles, Saul is forced to deal with his own, head on. Similarly, characters Jem and Saul are both saved in their books, but there is a large contrast in the ways that they are rescued. Jem Finch does not have the option of being saved from his potential death. In this instance, Jem is rescued by someone else, saving him from deciding if he would live or die. After his school talent show, Jem was walking home with his sister, Scout, when they were brutally attacked. It was due to an unexpected hero, Boo Radley that the children came out alive and generally unharmed. When the sheriff, Heck Tate, returned from the crime scene, he reported, “Bob Ewell’s lyin‘ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck up under his ribs. He’s dead, Mr. Finch” (Lee 357). It is inferred that the children's savior, Boo Radley is the one who stabbed Bob Ewell. However, this is never confirmed due to Heck’s desire to tell the public that the
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,
Atticus has a hard time choosing whether to tell the town that Bob Ewell died of an accident, or whether his son or Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell. Atticus is a famous lawyer in Maycomb and he believes in legal justice. Atticus learns what had really happened from Scout?s explanation of what she had seen, and heard when Bob Ewell attacked them while walking back from the school play. He understood that Bob Radley killed Bob Ewell in order to save Jem?s life. Atticus does not want to send Boo to court for the fact that Boo saved his children?s life.