Who really killed Bob Ewell?
We are led to believe by the popular consensus that Boo killed Ewell, but take into consideration that maybe it was the sheriff for the good of Maycomb?
Just a theory.
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Who really killed Bob Ewell?
I love that theory you are such a smart person and you sound handsome, I am a beautiful women who just loves scholarly men, interested Shakespeare?
Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell! End of argument!
Thank you jesus, there is at least one smart person. shut up.
you are totally right. it is totally obvious that boo killed bob ewell. otherwise atticus would not ask that random question about the knife or that boo for scout and jem. duh
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All the evidence points to Arthur as the killer. Reread the passage when all grows quiet under the tree and Scout feels around with her feet. She is feeling Bob's body, and she feels a belt buckle, buttons, "something I could not identify," and then a scratchy face. That something is clearly the kitchen knife used by Arthur Radley. Scout notices everything; she does not mention that she could hear the man breathing.
Heck Tate shows Atticus a switchblade he claims to have taken from a drunk man that night. That drunk man was Bob Ewell. There is no blood on it, so Bob did not stab anyone with it.
Mr. Tate was not present under the tree. He had to be summoned by telephone after Jem and Scout were brought home.
Arthur Radley killed Bob Ewell . . . and no one seems upset by that fact. Everyone will be better off without him.
Heck Tate shows Atticus a switchblade he claims to have taken from a drunk man that night. That drunk man was Bob Ewell. There is no blood on it, so Bob did not stab anyone with it.
Mr. Tate was not present under the tree. He had to be summoned by telephone after Jem and Scout were brought home.
Arthur Radley killed Bob Ewell . . . and no one seems upset by that fact. Everyone will be better off without him.
All the evidence might point to Boo but Tate had to of been there when Ewell was killed...because when everything grew quiet and Scout was calling out for Jem and heard no reponse it "slowly came to me [her]that there were now FOUR people under the tree." Now, Ewell had struggled over to the tree, thats one, Jem might of been unconscious near the tree, thats two, Boo since he was the one who carried Jem to the house, thats three, and for the fourth unless Mrs. Harper Lee made a mistake (which I highly doubt) the only other person that could of been under that tree was Mr. Heck Tate. But I might be very wrong, that sentence out of the whole book was the only thing I didnt understand.
Maria, the four people are Jem, Arthur, Bob Ewell, and Scout herself. If Heck Tate had been present, he would have spoken to Scout. He would have asked if she was all right and explained that Jem was injured. He also would have spoked to Arthur, asking him to carry Jem home.
Consider the time line. I don't think Heck Tate could have run home from the crime scene by the time that Scout got home and told her father what had happened. Remember, Atticus speaks to Heck directly when he telephones.
Heck Tate is an honest man. Yes, he covers up the truth about Arthur's act, but he would not try to pin his own crime on Arthur. He tells Atticus, "I never heard tell that it's a gainst the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what HE did..." (emphasis mine). Heck's HIM is clearly referring to Arthur Radley. Then he says, "...taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service an' draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight--to me, that's a sin." Again, that man he's talking about his clearly Arthur.
Consider the time line. I don't think Heck Tate could have run home from the crime scene by the time that Scout got home and told her father what had happened. Remember, Atticus speaks to Heck directly when he telephones.
Heck Tate is an honest man. Yes, he covers up the truth about Arthur's act, but he would not try to pin his own crime on Arthur. He tells Atticus, "I never heard tell that it's a gainst the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what HE did..." (emphasis mine). Heck's HIM is clearly referring to Arthur Radley. Then he says, "...taking the one man who's done you and this town a great service an' draggin' him with his shy ways into the limelight--to me, that's a sin." Again, that man he's talking about his clearly Arthur.
has anyone taken into consideration that perhaps it could have been jem? Boo Radley seems like the obvious spark to the story who kills the bad guy, but it could very well have been jem.
Jordyn, Jem did not have a knife. Bob's was the switchblade, and that wasn't used in the murder.
If Jem had killed Bob, Heck Tate would have told Atticus this. It would clearly have been self-defense. All Tate's lines point to Arthur as the killer.
If Jem had killed Bob, Heck Tate would have told Atticus this. It would clearly have been self-defense. All Tate's lines point to Arthur as the killer.
I think it was Boo that killed him, but its interesting that Scout has the thought that the man carrying Jem appears to be 'carrying a load too heavy for him'. Which may indicate he used all of his strength fighting off Bob. It also could be considered a reference for Boo to carry the symbolic 'weight' of having just killed a man.
i believe that arthur killed him. but just because scout says Arthur cant carry him doesn't point out that arthur did it. He was a weak man, he never leaves the house and pale when she see's him. all scout is saying is that hes not strong enough to carry jem because he has no strength to begin with. A man with a lifestyle like arthur wouldnt have any strength to carry like a 12 or 13 year old.
It could have actually been an accident and not a conspiracy exactly how Harper wrote it. Scout makes mention of how white Arthur's hands were at the house. He couldn't have had time to wash them and while I've never witnessed a stabbing, I believe it would cause at least some blood to get on a person's hands.
Well it is really misterious.
So curious about it.
So curious about it.
The thing is in both the original movie and book they hint to the fact that it is Boo. I got it from both. And i am not 100% sure but i believe they referred to the tittle with it would be like killing a mocking bird because all Boo ever did was help them and watch over them for example while the houses where on fire he came out and gave Scout a blanket so it wouldn't be too cold for her.
I think you guys are all overlooking the the real culprit, Tom's ghost
i think scout may of done it..."i ran in the direction of Jem's scream and sank into a flabby male stomach"
or it could of been boo...
just a theory.
or it could of been boo...
just a theory.
yea it could have been scout
It was Boo. Jem went unconscious from shock after Bob broke his arm. Scout would have mentioned something about killing him because she is the narrator. This leaves Bob and someone else under the tree. Bob coughing due to his lungs filling with blood, or Boo coughing "his dreadful raling cough." Heck gives us a hint that Boo is the only one who knows what happened when he says, "'d take somebody MIGHTY USED TO THE DARK to make a competent witness..."
Boo Radley clearly killed Bob Ewell. Throughout the whole book Boo was being nice to the kids, he gave them gifts though the tree and he placed a blanket on Scout. That night when Jem broke his arm they were close to the Radley house, Boo heard them Scout and Jem yelling and came to the rescue. Since Bob was going to kill them Boo killed hime first in an effort to save his friends. Also why would Boo have come to the Finch's house after unless he was involved?
Clearly Boo killed Bob Ewell, the sheriff took the knife from Boo and replaced t with the knife Bob Ewell had to make it look as if he fell on his knife.
If you are writting an essay on this then I suggest that you debate all possible subjects then make a personal conclusion.
Have a nice day :D
Have a nice day :D
Source(s): gcse books, my brain
Um i think its Arthur (Boo) Radley. Um but they never really say so if your writing a report i would suggest putting that its implied that its Arthur (but never really stated).
Source(s): Read the book...
i believe that it was santa claus who killed him. he got mad because a reindeer pooped in his eye so he just randomly killed that guy.
Source(s): my imagination
My theory is that Boo Radley was trying to kill Jem and Scout, and when Bob Ewell heard the screams, he came running to help, not realizing that it was Jem and Scout. When Boo realized that someone had heard the commotion, he decided to cut his losses and look like the hero by killing Bob Ewell. Then, he brought Jem and Scout home so that he wouldn't be caught.
Scout even mentions that their savior, "...had probably been at the pageant, and was in the vicinity...must have heard our screams and come runnning" (356). Also, Boo was rumored to be a creeper, and these rumors must have started because of some truth. He constantly watched and stalks the children.
Scout even mentions that their savior, "...had probably been at the pageant, and was in the vicinity...must have heard our screams and come runnning" (356). Also, Boo was rumored to be a creeper, and these rumors must have started because of some truth. He constantly watched and stalks the children.
Source(s): The book
dfasdfa or whatever your name is... really? don't comment if you're going to make stupid answers.
nice imagination though. :)
And I believe Boo Radley killed him. In the book, Heck Tate even says "a boy Jem's size with a busted arm wouldn't have the fight to tackle and kill a grown man in the pitch dark." Scout couldn't have because she had no weapon. Either Bob killed himself (falling on his knife) or Boo killed him. If anyone has a reason to why I'm wrong I'd be glad to hear it, but that's what I think.
and tom j, you are a beautiful "women"? :)
nice imagination though. :)
And I believe Boo Radley killed him. In the book, Heck Tate even says "a boy Jem's size with a busted arm wouldn't have the fight to tackle and kill a grown man in the pitch dark." Scout couldn't have because she had no weapon. Either Bob killed himself (falling on his knife) or Boo killed him. If anyone has a reason to why I'm wrong I'd be glad to hear it, but that's what I think.
and tom j, you are a beautiful "women"? :)
Source(s): The book
Obviously, the culprit is a mocking bird. The items left in tree's knot hole were clearly left by a mocking bird, no explanation needed. a knife was left in the tree, so we know that this bird has access to weapons. The murder took place under a TREE, the perfect place for a mocking bird to get in and out unnoticed. A mocking bird grasping a knife in its talons could easily go through a mans chest, as a mocking bird can fly at speeds up to 95km per hour. Lastly, at the end, when they were covering up the murder with Heck Tate, they said that revealing the killer would be like killing a mocking bird!
Source(s): To Kill A Mocking Bird and birdloversonly.org
i was told that Arthur (Boo) killed Bob, because Mr. Tate basically said it to Atticus. Also Mr. Tate said he toke the switch blade from a drunk, which was Bob, he tried to kill the kids with a switch blade, and Boo had the kitchen kinife that killed Bob.
Source(s): The book gave me the information.
I would say Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell. The facts lead straight to it.
Cole h: The coughing was from Boo. As you see in the book when Boo Radley was coughing in the Finch's house and he couldn't help from restraining a cough in this scene.
Once Jem broke his arm and other injuries, he went into shock and becomes unconscious due to all the pain in his body.
As somebody mentioned, If Jem was to kill Ewell, she would have mentioned it. Scout was also defenseless on the ground, pinned to the ground by Bob Ewell and then the force was raised. Scout also says she feels a belt, whiskers of a beard and something she couldn’t identify.
Everything points to Boo Radley killing Bob Ewell. Officer Heck Tate only covers for Boo because he doesn’t feel that Boo should be locked up again for saving the Atticus children. Boo (and Tom Robinson) is considered to be a mockingbird in this story because he doesn’t harm anybody (excluding the incident with his father). As they say in the book, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Cole h: The coughing was from Boo. As you see in the book when Boo Radley was coughing in the Finch's house and he couldn't help from restraining a cough in this scene.
Once Jem broke his arm and other injuries, he went into shock and becomes unconscious due to all the pain in his body.
As somebody mentioned, If Jem was to kill Ewell, she would have mentioned it. Scout was also defenseless on the ground, pinned to the ground by Bob Ewell and then the force was raised. Scout also says she feels a belt, whiskers of a beard and something she couldn’t identify.
Everything points to Boo Radley killing Bob Ewell. Officer Heck Tate only covers for Boo because he doesn’t feel that Boo should be locked up again for saving the Atticus children. Boo (and Tom Robinson) is considered to be a mockingbird in this story because he doesn’t harm anybody (excluding the incident with his father). As they say in the book, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
Source(s): "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Harper Lee)
Either it was Arthur (Boo) Radley or Bob Ewell really did fall on his knife...
Maybe......
The sheriff insists on not taking this case further because he doesn't want Boo to get unwanted attention from the people of Maycomb and knows that Boo killed Bob Ewell really, to protect 'his children'-Jem and Scout.
Maybe......
The sheriff insists on not taking this case further because he doesn't want Boo to get unwanted attention from the people of Maycomb and knows that Boo killed Bob Ewell really, to protect 'his children'-Jem and Scout.
Source(s): The novel and myself.
There is still one thing I don't understand. I think it's quite clear that Boo killed Bob. Then why is Atticus trying to convince Heck that the killer is Jem and he should go to justice???
Well i do think that boo killed bob simply because heck insisted he did but in reality who really know?@naialobar- he is doing it because of the story scout told. based on everything she said she made it seem like jem got up pulled bob off of her and then stabbed him. This could very well be the case and jem could have passed out after due to complete shock of what he had done. Then again bob snapped jems arm so atticus has it in his mind that jem committed the crime. Then he feels heck is just trying to cover it up for the safety of his son.
Source(s): The book and my own personal theorys i suppose:)
Wow you guys have really great thoughts - I just had one question - I really think it was Boo Radley who killed Bob Ewell - but besides for reading other's answers how from the book can we see this?
Source(s): To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Atticus believes that if he covers up the crime, he won't be true to his values. He believes his children will never look at him the same way. But when he asks Scout after Heck leaves, if she understands, she says Yes. And Boo killed Bob, its clear when Heck screams "Goddammit it, Im not talking about Jem"
There is a line that indicated that Bob Ewell attempted to stab Scout. Her costume had been slashed and there is a line stating that "metal ripped on metal". Her costume is what saved her life. "A shiny clean line stood out on the dull wire" "Bob Ewell meant business" indicates that a knife made a clean slice through the costume.
Boo had to have been the killer. The switch blade was Ewell's weapon and Tate that. I'm just wondering why would Boo have taken a kitchen knife with him out to save the kids. Maybe he thought he would need it or perhaps he saw the knife with his keen eyesight. Boo would have had to be stalking Ewell to know to bring a knife and to get there on time to rescue the kids.
Perhaps we need a crime scene investigator to recreate the event. That would be interesting.
It is a great novel that was purposely written to be ambiguous. I think the reader wants to believe that Boo saved the kids and that some justice was served in the end. The details really don't matter in the end.
Boo had to have been the killer. The switch blade was Ewell's weapon and Tate that. I'm just wondering why would Boo have taken a kitchen knife with him out to save the kids. Maybe he thought he would need it or perhaps he saw the knife with his keen eyesight. Boo would have had to be stalking Ewell to know to bring a knife and to get there on time to rescue the kids.
Perhaps we need a crime scene investigator to recreate the event. That would be interesting.
It is a great novel that was purposely written to be ambiguous. I think the reader wants to believe that Boo saved the kids and that some justice was served in the end. The details really don't matter in the end.
Source(s): To Kill a Mockingbird, novel.
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