In Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the Ewells are a family that live on the outskirts of Maycomb and are seen as the town outcasts. They are described as poor, uneducated, and immoral. The Ewells stand in stark contrast to the more upright Finch family, who serve as the moral center of the novel.
Who are the Ewells?
The Ewell family consists of Robert E. Lee Ewell, a single father, and his eight children. The mother is not present, having passed away some time ago. The Ewell children include Mayella, the eldest daughter, along with several young sons and unnamed younger daughters. The family lives in extreme poverty on the dumpsite outside of town.
Robert Ewell, the patriarch of the family, is unemployed and spends his relief checks on alcohol. He is described as a cruel and abusive father. The Ewell children are often seen in tattered, unwashed clothes and are kept out of school. The family is isolated from the rest of the community and widely feared and disliked by the people of Maycomb.
Members of the Ewell Family
Robert E. Lee “Bob” Ewell – The patriarch of the Ewell family. He has a reputation around town as a drunkard and abuser of his children. He tries to falsely accuse Tom Robinson of rape.
Mayella Violet Ewell – Bob Ewell’s oldest daughter. She accuses Tom Robinson of rape after he helps her with some chores when her father is away.
Burris Ewell – One of the many Ewell children, Burris attends the first day of school but is sent home for lice. He reappears from time to time around town causing trouble.
How are the Ewells different from other families?
There are several key ways in which the Ewells stand apart from the other residents of Maycomb:
Poverty
The Ewells are the poorest family in Maycomb. They live at the town dump in a primitive cabin with no electricity or running water. The children often go without proper food or clothing. Bob Ewell does no work besides occasional odd jobs and spends his relief money on alcohol rather than caring for his family.
Lack of Hygiene
Related to their poverty, the Ewells have very poor hygiene. They are infested with lice and described as having a foul odor about them. This sets them apart from other families who maintain proper hygiene and care for their appearance.
Lack of Education
None of the Ewell children attend school regularly past the first few days. Their father keeps them at home and they grow up uneducated and illiterate. This sets them apart from children like Jem and Scout Finch who attend school daily.
Immorality
The Ewells are seen as immoral and sinful by the people of Maycomb. Bob Ewell is an abusive father and drunk. Mayella makes untrue accusations about Tom Robinson. The children act wild and uncivilized, breaking windows and causing trouble around town. This amorality distinguishes them from the uptstanding Finches.
Isolation
The Ewells do not integrate into the community of Maycomb. They live outside of town at the dump and do not attend church or social events. People fear them and exclude them. The Finches and other families, however, are active parts of the community.
Key Events Involving the Ewells
There are several pivotal events in To Kill a Mockingbird that involve the Ewell family and reinforce how different they are from the rest of Maycomb:
Burris Ewell on the First Day of School
On the first day of school, Burris Ewell shows up filthy and covered in lice. He causes a disruption in class and acts rudely until Scout embarrasses him and he leaves, cementing the Ewell reputation for ignorance and poor hygiene.
Mayella’s Accusation Against Tom Robinson
Mayella falsely accuses Tom Robinson, a black man, of beating and raping her. This act reinforces the perception of Ewell immorality and untrustworthiness in contrast to Tom’s honesty.
The Trial
At the trial, the Ewells’ poverty and lack of credibility become clear. The community distrusts their accusations against the well-respected Tom Robinson solely because of who they are as a family.
Bob Ewell’s Attacks on the Finches
Angry about losing the trial, Bob Ewell starts menacing the upright Finch family, first attacking Jem and Scout on their way home from a school event. This underscores the Ewell’s cruelty and immorality.
How Other Characters Regard the Ewells
Almost every character in To Kill a Mockingbird looks down upon the Ewells and sees them as fundamentally different from the rest of society:
The Finches
The moral center of the story, the Finches represent everything the Ewells are not – educated, upstanding, and integrated into the community. They find the Ewells untrustworthy but still show them compassion.
The African American Community
Characters like Calpurnia and Tom Robinson see the Ewells as “white trash” who falsely accuse Tom due to their own ignorance and amorality. They are wary of the family.
Maycomb Society
Most of white Maycomb society looks down on the Ewells as the poorest and most degraded family in town. They are excluded from events and gossip due to their poverty and unpleasant behavior.
Mr. Gilmer
The prosecuting attorney knows the Ewells lack credibility and only reluctantly takes their case against Tom Robinson because he is duty bound to do so.
Conclusion
In summary, the Ewells represent ignorance, amorality, cruelty, and the darker parts of humanity in To Kill a Mockingbird. Their poverty, poor hygiene, lack of education, dishonesty, and isolation set them far apart from the more civilized characters like the Finches. The Ewells serve to highlight key themes in the novel relating to morality, compassion, prejudice, and social inequality through their contrast with the other residents of Maycomb.