Burris Ewell Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Burris Ewell?
Burris Ewell is a character from the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. He is the eldest son of Bob Ewell and the brother of Mayella Ewell. Burris is described as dirty and smelly, with uncombed hair, grubby overalls and no shoes. He is also said to be lazy and unkempt, rarely attending school or doing any work around town. Burris plays an important role in the novel as he serves as a foil for Scout Finch, Atticus Finch’s daughter. Burris, who comes from poverty-stricken family background while Scout comes from an affluent background. This stark contrast between their upbringing serves to highlight the disparity between class in Maycomb County during this time period. At school Burris’ behavior causes trouble for Miss Caroline Fisher, his teacher on his first day at school; his refusal to take part in any of her lessons serves to demonstrate how little regard he has for education. Later on he makes an appearance at Tom Robinson’s trial where his father testifies against him; it becomes apparent that Bob has been abusing Mayella which ultimately leads to Tom’s death sentence despite Atticus’ efforts to prove otherwise. Overall Burris Ewell illustrates the effects that poverty and lack of education can have on children living under such circumstances in 1930’s America; his presence in To Kill a Mockingbird helps readers gain insight into these issues and allows them to explore themes such as justice, prejudice and racism through its characters’ stories.