Poor Burris
Ewell. He is definitely a product of his environment. He lives next door to the dump, has an
abusive father, and there is very little hope for a bright future. He has taken on the
qualities of his father; he is mean, abusive, and ignorant. Like his father, he has a nasty
reputation with his peers and intentionally makes Miss Caroline cry on the first day of school.
He comes to school on the first day only because the law requires it. He is dirty and has a head
full of lice. He has probably been abused like his other seven brothers and sisters, and Burris
must scavenge for basic necessities in the town dump. Burris mothers whereabouts is unknown;
she is either dead or has run off from her abusive situation. He has been raised by his sister,
Mayella, and has probably not experienced much love or affection.
In the
novel, Burris Ewell and his family are symbols of southern white poverty where the need to
survive causes them to do desperate things for respect and power. This is also shown through Bob
Ewell's attack onand , through his beating of Mayella, and through accusing Tom Robinson of
rape. Burris is just following in his father's footsteps.
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