The Importance Of The Bantam Cock

Bob Ewell is a wretched, two-faced, conniving most unworthy person to have the gift of life in all of Alabama. He drinks a lot, does not bother to work, and he just collects welfare checks and spends them on alcohol. Harper Lee wrote, “a little bantam cock of a man . . . A shock of wispy new-washed hair stood up from his forehead; his nose was thin, pointed, and shiny; he had no chin to speak of—it seemed to be part of his crepey neck”(Lee 227) Harper describes Bob Ewell as a apathetic, tipsy, Neanderthal that can’t keep a job to save his skin. During Tom Robinson’s trial Bob Ewell tried to say that he beat his daughter Mayella and then raped her; when in in reality Bob Ewell is the one who beat Mayella. Another reason Bob Ewell is terrible person is at the end of the story when he tried to kill Scout and Jem. Harper Lee had wrote, “What is it, Heck? Said Atticus. Mr. Tate found his neck and rubbed it. 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). Mr. Ewell had aimed to kill Scout and Jem but Mr. Author James Radley, more commonly known as Boo Radley, saved their lives. Mr. Ewell was mad at Atticus because he knew that it wasn’t Tom who beat Mayella and raped her, so Bob Ewell saw that he could get back at Atticus by taking the lives if the two most important people in the world to him. Bob Ewell illustrates the dark side of

Tom Robinson’s character exemplifies the mockingbird because he is a black man who is denied justice based on racial prejudice. After Mayella Ewell accuses Tom of rape, there is no way for him to be judged fairly because the narrow-minded, white townspeople are unable to get past their prejudices towards blacks. At his trial, Tom’s lawyer, Atticus, argues,

There was no room at the public hitching rail for another animal, mules and wagons were parked under every available tree. The courthouse square was covered with picnic parties sitting on newspapers.” (Lee, 160). The Ewells, Negroes and the defendant, Tom, represent the lower classes, the trial made it clear that when a black man’s word is against a white, the white, no matter the social status, always wins. Atticus understands the fact that winning the trial is very slim to none and he explains that you just can’t give up “They’ve done it before and they’ll keep doing it again and when they do it-seems that only children weep.” (Lee, 213). Despite the man Tom is, the jury must accuse someone of the crime and choose the easiest man to blame, Tom Robinson.

Atticus is appointed to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. She is a member of the Ewell family, who is looked down upon by Maycomb society and referred to as "white trash." Atticus knows that Tom has almost no chance because he is black and will be tried by an all white jury. Nevertheless, he wants to help him reveal the truth.

During this time, Atticus, who is a lawyer, takes on a very difficult case. He is defending Tom Robinson, who is an African American man being charged with raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. At the trial, Jem and Scout try to find seats, but they are all taken. Reverend Sykes, the reverend of the African American church, runs into Scout and Jem and tells them “There’s not a seat downstairs. Do you all reckon it’ll be alright if you all came to the balcony with me” (186)? The children happily take his offer and travel to the balcony where “Four negroes rose and gave them their front-row seats” (186). As time passes, Jem becomes very engaged in the trial. Scout says that “Jem seemed to be having a quiet fit. He was pounding the balcony rail softly, and once he whispered, “We’ve got him” (202). Jem is very confident that they have won the case, and thinks that Tom Robinson will not be convicted to be guilty. Later in the book, when they take a break from the trial, Jem

Atticus was assigned Tom Robinson in the case against Bob Ewell, and in the process he was an example to both his children and the town as an honorable lawyer. When Bob Ewell brought a case to court claiming his white daughter had been raped by black Tom Robinson, almost everyone assumed the jury would charge Robinson guilty; however, Atticus hoped for a different outcome. Atticus firmly believed his client was innocent, contrary to the public’s beliefs. Because Atticus was highly respected as a lawyer, this case caused a riff between the town. As Tom awaited his trial in the county jail, Atticus spent the night guarded the door to the cell. A group of perturbed men soon ambushed Atticus and demanded to see the prisoner. “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch (153).” In this situation, Atticus displayed honor through risking his life so an innocent black man was not killed. Even though he lost respect among his some neighbors, Atticus was honorable in his actions and stayed true to

Not only through the use of Tom Robinson as a character and his unjust trial, but also through the use of the Finches coloured housekeeper, Cal, and the prejudice against Boo Radley because of his past crimes. Tom Robinson has done nothing wrong yet is still accused and even Atticus Finch, Tom’s lawyer, knows nothing can be done to defend a black man against two dishonest whites. The children’s naivety plays an important role in presenting the theme of prejudice in the book, especially the narration and how Scout, Jem, and Dill did not truly understand what was happening at the time, which creates an almost dramatic irony in the fact that the reader is able to comprehend more than the characters created by Lee.

However, Atticus children Scout and Jem are tease by the other children because their father wanting to help Tom. In this case, some of the people in the town do not agree with Atticus decision about helping a black man. The protagonist is Atticus because he was defending Tom Robinson of something he did not do. The antagonist is Bob Ewell because he accused Tom for raping his daughter and beating on her. The dramatic actions of the play were Atticus is assigned to defend a black man Tom Robinson that was accused of a rape charge. While watching the trial, Scout and Jem could not understand how a jury could possibly convict Tom Robinson of rape based on Ewell story. The themes of the play were good and evil; and the importance of moral education. The inciting moment was when Atticus decided to defend Tom Robinson on trial. The climax was when the jury finds Tom Robinson guilty for the rape

On the night of Halloween, Jem and Scout are attacked by Bob Ewell. Mr. Ewell has the intent of stabbing and killing the children, and if it wasn’t for her ham costume, she likely would have died. Heck Tate is discussing the ham costume with Atticus when “he pointed with a long forefinger. A shiny clean line stood out on the dull wire. ‘Bob Ewell meant business,’ Mr. Tate muttered” (Lee 360). This quote explains the state of Scout’s costume, and how it was cut in places from Mr. Ewell slashing at it. However, Scout was not harmed. This symbolizes how Scout’s naivité shields her from the harsh reality of society. A main topic in To Kill a Mockingbird is innocence, and Scout continually represents an innocent character. While the deep rooted racism of Maycomb is being exposed all around her, Scout remains somewhat oblivious to this, and her youthful unawareness serves to protect her from fully understanding the dark community in which she lives. After the trial, Scout states, “I told Jem if that was so, then why didn't Tom's jury made up of folks like the Cunninghams, acquit Tom to spite the Ewells? Jem waved my question away as being infantile" (Lee 303). This demonstrates Scout’s inability to perceive the real reason that Tom was convicted, which is the racism that plagues Maycomb. The ham costume is a subtle, but important symbol of the way Scout navigates the cruel prejudices of

Atticus decides to take on a highly controversial case in Maycomb, where Mayella Ewell, a 19 year old white female, accuses Tom Robinson, a black man in his thirties, of rapeing her. During the trial, Mayella, Bob, and the sheriff state that Robinson hit her on the right side of her face; however, Atticus contradicts the Ewell’s story by showing the jury that Tom Robinson only has one useful hand. Jem then whispers, ‘We’ve got him’” (Lee 202). Although, Maycomb’s society would never allow for Tom Robinson to win the trail, Jem’s innocent perspective enables him to believe that race does not come before the facts. Shortly after the trial, Jem says, “‘Doesn’t make it right. You can’t just convict a man on evidence like that-—you can’t’” (Lee 252). Jem displays an understanding of the racism and divisions in society within Maycomb in this quote. He knows that the conviction of Tom Robinson is bias and that the treatment of all blacks is unfair. Jem shows moral growth in this quote and has a more mature mindset about equality than most of the folks in Maycomb.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird follows the childhood of Jem and Scout Finch, who both encounter and experience many things that cause them to grow up during the book. One of the main events in the book that is a major factor into their growth is the trial of Tom Robinson. The trial consists of Atticus Finch, their father, defending Tom Robinson, the defendant, against the Ewells and Mr. Gilmer, the plaintiff. Atticus and the Finch children have faced much criticism since Atticus wants to defend Tom, a black man, while he is white. Much of the trial boils down to racism and prejudice. But, by Atticus’ skill, by Atticus’ determination, and by Atticus’ speech, he almost succeeded. Before the event of the trial, Harper Lee uses many symbols

Though the black community is sad that Tom Robinson was found guilty they are still faithful that Atticus will protect and defend the black community. Bob Ewell is not happy at all with the way Atticus questioned him and his daughter and the way he defended Tom Robinson. Miss Stephanie says that"this morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he'd get him if it took the rest of his life"t Jem's reaction to the verdict is that he leaves the courtroom and cries because he didn't think Tom would be guilty and he feels that it is an unfair verdict and he sees the town in an unfair way. I personally thought that this judging was just a way to seem like society was fair by giving a black man a “trial”. However, I think that they were going to say Tom Robinson was guilty either way.

Only a few beings exist as a mockingbird. Mockingbirds exist only for the enjoyment of others; they make other people’s lives brighter. Though in To Kill a Mockingbird Tom Robinson’s character does not hold prominence, he displays many honorable attributes. These qualities define him as a mockingbird. In this story, he enters as a desperate defendant battling for his life. Throughout the trial, however, he still exemplifies a few different, respectable traits. Even before the trial, he displayed a solid work ethic and a courtesy that one cannot deny. His truthfulness, respectfulness, and hard-working attitude make him a reputable character in this story. Permeating his struggle for justice, these characteristics shine through.

Throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird Lee discusses the effects of ignorance and the toll it takes on people such as Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, Scout herself, and many more. Through her examples of sexism, prejudice, and racism, from the populist of poverty stricken Southerners, she shows the readers the injustice of many. The victims of ignorance are the ‘mockingbirds’ of the story. A good example of this injustice is the trial of Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of raping a white girl and is found guilty. The book is from the point of view Scout, a child, who has an advantage over most kids due to her having a lawyer as a dad, to see the other side of the story. Her father tells her in the story, “you never really know a man until

The trial itself provides Harper Lee with the opportunity to examine the attitudes of people like the Ewells and the presumably more respectable members of the jury. Bob Ewell emerges as a drunken, bullying, child-abuser with little respect for the law and even less for truth and justice. But however low in the social order he is, Bob Ewell can still look down on black people. At the beginning of his testimony he complains about a 'nest' of them near him bringing down the property values of his shack by the town dump. Tom's account of Mayella's actions suggests that he may have indulged in some form of incest with his daughter, but the taboo against relationships between white women and black men is so strong that even Bob Ewell is shocked and horrified by it. He responds first by savagely beating his daughter and then by accusing Tom Robinson of rape.