The Ewells
Introduction
Poor, ill-educated family integral to message of prejudice.
Family is dysfunctional – children are uncared for and unloved by Bob, whose parenting is a severe
contrast to Atticus’ maxim of teaching without violence or threatening authority.
Harper Lee shows Bob as beyond redemption as he cannot see the impact of his aggression or
discrimination.
Mayella is abused, isolated and although she acts deceitfully in the trial she’s one of the
mockingbird characters – her innocence is corrupted by the fear instilled in her by her father.
At the end of bildungsroman, there is a small glimmer of hope for the reader that Mayella will be
able to restore her goodness.
Burris Ewell
• ‘filthiest human I had ever seen’– the Ewells’ poverty is evident in the state of their surroundings.
They are unclean and the state of their health leaves much to be desired.
• ‘dark grey’ ‘rusty’ ‘black’ – the lexical set of darkness creates an ominous tone and introduces a
sense of threat and danger, which foreshadows the approaching damage caused by the Ewells, in
the form of being responsible for an innocent man’ conviction and consequent death.
• ‘fist-sized clean space on his face’ – ‘fist-sized’ implies domestic violence and this abhorrent
practise suggests that the Ewells are the lowest form as human beings if Bob physically beats his
children. Conveys how they receive no affection from their selfish, cruel father, who takes out her
depravity and drunkenness on his own family.
• ‘laughed rudely’ – conveys Burris’ lack of respect and extended petulance and nastiness. Despite
the fact that both the Ewells and Cunninghams are poor, their differences are starkly evident in the
Ewells’ hateful behaviour which contrasts the self-respect and pride associated with the
Cunninghams.
• ‘boy’s condescension flashed to anger’ – ‘flashed’ represents the temper and aggression possessed
by Burris, which applies to the whole family. Reflects especially the physical violence seen
repeatedly in Bob’s nature.
• ‘snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher’ – Burris’ insults to Miss Caroline are sexually threatening and
utterly degrading. This foreshadows his father’s despicable behaviour later on in his abuse of his
daughter, Mayella.
Poverty and the Great Depression
The Wall Street Crash of 1929, which put a sudden end to what was industrially known as the
‘Roaring 20s’, triggered the Great Depression which had an economically devastating effect all
across the world. It served only to deepen the rift between black and white people, as well as the
social classes, resulting in many of the working class being plummeted into a state of severe
poverty. The Ewells are one such family, whose deprivation is accounted to them living in the:
‘depths of a depression’.
The New Deal, implemented in 1933 by President Roosevelt, was designed to reduce the impacts of
the Great Depression by decreasing homelessness and unemployment. One scheme aimed at
providing more jobs was the WPA: Works Progress Administration, which although did not solve
the problem, it did improve the skills of the workmen. However, the fact that Bob Ewell was the
‘only man’ ‘fired from WPA for laziness’ conveys his utter selfishness and uselessness. Even when
handed helps he throw it away, without any regard for the lives of his children.
• ‘blind’ ‘Ewell’s activities’ – the only time Atticus ignores the law is when Bob Ewell drinks away all
of their money and leaves his children starving, so he is allowed to poach out of season. This
undeserved privilege reinstates the status of the Ewells in just leeching off the country, unlike the
Cunninghams who are determined to work hard for what they receive.
Introduction
Poor, ill-educated family integral to message of prejudice.
Family is dysfunctional – children are uncared for and unloved by Bob, whose parenting is a severe
contrast to Atticus’ maxim of teaching without violence or threatening authority.
Harper Lee shows Bob as beyond redemption as he cannot see the impact of his aggression or
discrimination.
Mayella is abused, isolated and although she acts deceitfully in the trial she’s one of the
mockingbird characters – her innocence is corrupted by the fear instilled in her by her father.
At the end of bildungsroman, there is a small glimmer of hope for the reader that Mayella will be
able to restore her goodness.
Burris Ewell
• ‘filthiest human I had ever seen’– the Ewells’ poverty is evident in the state of their surroundings.
They are unclean and the state of their health leaves much to be desired.
• ‘dark grey’ ‘rusty’ ‘black’ – the lexical set of darkness creates an ominous tone and introduces a
sense of threat and danger, which foreshadows the approaching damage caused by the Ewells, in
the form of being responsible for an innocent man’ conviction and consequent death.
• ‘fist-sized clean space on his face’ – ‘fist-sized’ implies domestic violence and this abhorrent
practise suggests that the Ewells are the lowest form as human beings if Bob physically beats his
children. Conveys how they receive no affection from their selfish, cruel father, who takes out her
depravity and drunkenness on his own family.
• ‘laughed rudely’ – conveys Burris’ lack of respect and extended petulance and nastiness. Despite
the fact that both the Ewells and Cunninghams are poor, their differences are starkly evident in the
Ewells’ hateful behaviour which contrasts the self-respect and pride associated with the
Cunninghams.
• ‘boy’s condescension flashed to anger’ – ‘flashed’ represents the temper and aggression possessed
by Burris, which applies to the whole family. Reflects especially the physical violence seen
repeatedly in Bob’s nature.
• ‘snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher’ – Burris’ insults to Miss Caroline are sexually threatening and
utterly degrading. This foreshadows his father’s despicable behaviour later on in his abuse of his
daughter, Mayella.
Poverty and the Great Depression
The Wall Street Crash of 1929, which put a sudden end to what was industrially known as the
‘Roaring 20s’, triggered the Great Depression which had an economically devastating effect all
across the world. It served only to deepen the rift between black and white people, as well as the
social classes, resulting in many of the working class being plummeted into a state of severe
poverty. The Ewells are one such family, whose deprivation is accounted to them living in the:
‘depths of a depression’.
The New Deal, implemented in 1933 by President Roosevelt, was designed to reduce the impacts of
the Great Depression by decreasing homelessness and unemployment. One scheme aimed at
providing more jobs was the WPA: Works Progress Administration, which although did not solve
the problem, it did improve the skills of the workmen. However, the fact that Bob Ewell was the
‘only man’ ‘fired from WPA for laziness’ conveys his utter selfishness and uselessness. Even when
handed helps he throw it away, without any regard for the lives of his children.
• ‘blind’ ‘Ewell’s activities’ – the only time Atticus ignores the law is when Bob Ewell drinks away all
of their money and leaves his children starving, so he is allowed to poach out of season. This
undeserved privilege reinstates the status of the Ewells in just leeching off the country, unlike the
Cunninghams who are determined to work hard for what they receive.
