Friday, February 6, 2015

What three things happen with Bob Ewell in Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Bob Ewell becomes a menace three times.


  1. Bob Ewell acquires a job with the WPA, but is soon fired for his laziness. When he reports to the welfare office for a check, he claims repeatedly that Atticus Finch has cost him the job.

  2. One Sunday evening Judge Taylor reads while his wife is at church. When he hears a scratching coming from the rear of his house, he thinks it is his dog who wants to go outside. But, when he goes to the door, he finds the screen door swinging, and he notices a shadow on the corner of his house "and "that was all he saw of his visitor," who he suspects is Bob Ewell.

  3. When Helen Robinson walks down the public road to work for Mr. Link Deas, someone at the Ewells "chunked at her." After Mr. Deas threatens to report Ewell to the authorities, Bob Ewell walks behind Helen on the road, muttering foul words. When Mr. Deas comes out of his store, Ewell, who is leaning on the link fence, yells, "Don't you look at me, Link Deas, like I was dirt. I ain't jumped your---" Mr. Deas threatens again to involve the law if Ewell continues to bother Helen.

When Aunt Alexandra remarks that Bob Ewell seems to have a "permanent running grudge against everybody connected with the case," Atticus remarks that Ewell probably thought "he'd be a hero," but he really did not acquire any respect from anyone. He managed to get Tom convicted, but that was all. However, Atticus mistakenly believes that Ewell will "settle down when the weather changes."

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