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Essay / Bob Ewell: the deplorable character of Kill a Mockingbird
In Harper Lee's famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Bob Ewell emerges as a despicable and repugnant character. Through his physical description, Lee portrays Ewell as a loathsome and disreputable individual who embodies the worst qualities of Maycomb society. This essay aims to explore Bob Ewell's physical appearance as described in the text and how it contributes to his overall characterization. By analyzing the implications of his appearance, we can better understand Ewell's role as a symbol of prejudice, ignorance, and malevolence in the novel.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Bob Ewell's physical description is mentioned several times in the text, providing readers with a vivid picture of his repulsive appearance. Lee describes Ewell as a "little bantam cock of a man" with a "sickly white face" and "colorless eyes." His face is further described as being "so pale that it seemed to have a streak of white above each cheekbone", while his "spitty" hair and "striated and shiny" beard added to his unattractive appearance (Lee 30). Ewell's physical attributes, or lack thereof, serve as visual cues that reflect his inner character. First, Ewell's sickly white face and colorless eyes serve as symbols of his moral and intellectual bankruptcy. The lack of color in his face reflects his lack of empathy and compassion, as evidenced by his treatment of others, particularly Tom Robinson. Ewell's eyes, devoid of any warmth or humanity, suggest a lack of understanding and enlightenment. This physical description highlights Ewell's ignorance and reinforces his role as a symbol of prejudice and intolerance. Additionally, Ewell's unkempt appearance, with his spittle-colored hair and streaked beard, signifies his disregard for personal hygiene and societal norms. This description highlights his low social status and his rejection of the values defended by the rest of the Maycomb community. By neglecting his personal appearance, Ewell establishes himself as an outcast, reinforcing his position as an antagonist in the novel. Ewell's physical description also fits his role as a malevolent character. Its “bantam rooster” stature implies a confrontational and aggressive nature. This description, along with his unkempt appearance, creates an intimidating presence that adds to Maycomb's atmosphere of fear and tension. Ewell's physicality reflects his abusive behavior towards his daughter, Mayella, and his vengeful actions towards Tom Robinson and Atticus Finch. Additionally, Lee's emphasis on Ewell's physical appearance serves to contrast him with other characters in the novel. Atticus Finch, for example, is described as having a "long, narrow face" with "graying hair" that is "thin enough to see his scalp" (Lee 6). This juxtaposition highlights the stark contrast between Ewell's repulsive appearance and Atticus' dignified and respectable demeanor. Through this comparison, Lee highlights the deep divide between those who uphold justice and morality, like Atticus, and those who perpetuate prejudice and hatred, like Ewell. In conclusion, Bob Ewell's physical description in To Kill a Mockingbird aligns with his role as a despicable man. character. Through his sickly white face, colorless eyes, unkempt appearance, and aggressive stature, Ewell represents the worst qualities of Maycomb society. Lee's vivid depiction of Ewell's physical attributes contributes to his characterization as a symbol of prejudice, ignorance, and malevolence. By analyzing the implications of its appearance, we, 2002.