Why Is Burris Ewell Dull-Witted

First of all, Burris Ewell is portrayed as dull-witted. One reason why he is dull-witted is because he has been in first grade for three years. Burris said, “’Been comin’ to the first day o’ the first grade fer three year now’” (Lee 36). His decision to only come to the first day was his first stupid move, but the fact that he is three years older than what a first grader should be proves that he had to be held back because he is not very bright. Another reason why Burris is dull-witted is because he cannot spell his name. In a conversation between Burris and Miss Caroline, the text states, “’…would you spell your first name for me?’ ‘Don’t know how. They call me Burris’t home’” (Lee 35). He has been in the same grade for three years, yet he still cannot spell his own name.

Burris would have to be pretty dumb to not be able to spell his name.

The final reason why Burris can be considered dull-witted is shown through his language. For example, Burris said, “’You ain’t sendin’ me home, missus. I was on the verge of leavin’—I done done my time for this year’” (Lee 35). In every piece of dialogue Burris has in this chapter, the author adds emphasis by cutting off endings of words, spelling words wrong, and making fragments. All of these suggest that his vocabulary is not at all advanced, and he is not even smart enough to make complete sentences. Burris Ewell can also be described as repulsive. The first example of why Burris is repulsive is shown when the author is describing how he looked: “He was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick” (Lee 35). The way Burris is described shows how little he cares for personal hygiene and how disgusting he truly is on the outside. Another reason why Burris is repulsive is because of his family

name. The text states, “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” (Lee 40). The town looked down upon the Ewells because of their lack of trying to do anything useful. The Ewells arouse disgust in many people, which proves that they are repulsive. The final reason why Burris Ewell is repulsive is implied when he insults the teacher. The text says that he called Miss Caroline a “snot-nosed slut” that cannot make him do anything; he then did not leave the room until she started to cry (Lee 37). Any person that insults a young, innocent teacher and then waits to leave until she is crying is someone truly evil. This action of his definitely brought out the feeling of disgust in some towards him, which proves that Burris is revolting. In summary, Burris Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird can be described as dull-witted and repulsive.