The Affect of Evil Actions

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Recommended: Moral dilemmas in killing a mockingbird

In Harper Lee’s immortal novel To Kill A Mockingbird, one person’s initial wrongdoing released a torrent of evil in the sleepy Alabama town of Macomb.
Each individual person has a different view of evil that governs how they live. For example to Atticus and Miss Maudie, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember, it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (pg 119) Miss Maudie goes on to explain that mockingbirds don’t do anything but sing and they don’t do any of the annoying or disruptive things that other birds do. This isn’t just about killing a mockingbird, it’s about taking advantage of someone who hasn’t done anything to you and can’t defend themselves. Bob Ewell on the other hand seems to think that being “ambidextrous” is a sin. When Atticus asked him to write his name, he writes it with is left, and his lawyer Mr. Gilmer asked him if he was ambidextrous. He vehemently replied, that he most certainly was not and that he could use one hand as well as the other. Moral codes also differ from person to person; the laws of what is right and what is wrong are easily bent and reshaped by people. The Ewells thought it was perfectly fine to hunt and trap out of season and avoid going to school on all but the first day, however if Scout, Dill, or Jem had tried a stunt like that, they would have gotten in serious trouble.
Evil actions and wrongdoings don’t necessarily make an evil person. Take Walter Cunningham Sr. for example. He is present in the mob that came to linch Tom Robinson, he most likely would have done anything to get to Tom. He could easily be considered an evil man for wanting to kill Tom Robinson or being willing to hurt Atticus. However when Scout said that if Mr....

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...a seeked it by trying to seduce Tom. Because Mayella tried to seduce Tom, Ewell found it acceptable to beat her. Because Ewell beat her, Mayella tried to say that Tom had raped her. Because Mayella said that Tom had raped her, Atticus was appointed as Tom’s lawyer. Because Atticus was appointed Tom’s lawyer, Ewell got mad. Because Ewell got mad, he seeked revenge. Because Ewell seeked revenge, he tried to kill the Finch children. Ultimately, it was not Mayella’s evil action that released the flood of evil in the community but rather her father’s. If Bob Ewell had given Mayella the attention and proper upbringing that she deserved, this whole situation could most likely have been avoided.
In conclusion, by not treating his children in the proper manner, Bob Ewell released an entire flood of evil actions and wrongdoings throughout the sleepy Alabama town of Macomb.

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