Through the characterization of the Ewells, one can find evidence that the family is rather coarse, and do not particularly care what others think of them. The first clearly pronounced trait depicted by the Ewells is their general coarseness. This trait is evidenced first by the manner of the character Burris Ewell. He has lice crawling through his hair, and is utterly unperturbed by this fact. He is covered in dirt; he is in fact the “filthiest human” Scout has ever seen (Lee 31). He does not attend school and cannot even spell his own name when asked to by Miss Caroline. When Miss Caroline asks Burris to return to his seat, he responds in manner that is shockingly rude for Maycomb, calling Miss Caroline disgustingly insulting names and making
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As mentioned before, some members of the family are frequent and flagrant lawbreakers. Mr. Ewell hunts and traps openly out of season. The children attend school only on the first day, every year. All of these infractions are acted without the slightest fear of recompense. The Ewell’s simply do not seem to believe that the same set of rules that dictate life for the rest of Maycomb apply to them. The Ewells are also very set in their ways. They do not see any reason to change for anyone. According to Atticus, they have been the “disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” (Lee 35.) In other words, the behavior of the Ewell’s is nothing new, and it is not something they are likely to go about attempting to fix. Another insight from Atticus, this time on the subject of Mr. Ewell in particular, is that the man is “set in his ways” (Lee 36). It is what he grew up with, and it is the example he is setting for his children, because what reason have they to change? The Ewells lived in an “exclusive society made up of Ewells” (Lee 35). The rest of the world has no real impact on their lifestyles. The Ewells go on living the way they have always lived, in their own little pocket of
As mentioned before, some members of the family are frequent and flagrant lawbreakers. Mr. Ewell hunts and traps openly out of season. The children attend school only on the first day, every year. All of these infractions are acted without the slightest fear of recompense. The Ewell’s simply do not seem to believe that the same set of rules that dictate life for the rest of Maycomb apply to them. The Ewells are also very set in their ways. They do not see any reason to change for anyone. According to Atticus, they have been the “disgrace of Maycomb for three generations” (Lee 35.) In other words, the behavior of the Ewell’s is nothing new, and it is not something they are likely to go about attempting to fix. Another insight from Atticus, this time on the subject of Mr. Ewell in particular, is that the man is “set in his ways” (Lee 36). It is what he grew up with, and it is the example he is setting for his children, because what reason have they to change? The Ewells lived in an “exclusive society made up of Ewells” (Lee 35). The rest of the world has no real impact on their lifestyles. The Ewells go on living the way they have always lived, in their own little pocket of