Who Really Killed Bob Ewell? | To Kill A Mockingbird Questions | Q & A

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HomeTo Kill a MockingbirdQ & AWho 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.

Asked by on 11/16/2005 7:46 PM Last updated by Martina B #1323536 on 10/14/2023 7:01 PM
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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.

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.

Source(s)

To Kill a Mockingbird, novel.

Arthur "Boo" Radley didn't stay inside ALL his life. When he was a kid he was outside, when he put the blanket on Scout he went outside, when he saved Scout from Robert Ewell he was outside. All clues point to Arthur being teh culprit, but Harper Lee made a good thinking idea for its reader by leaving out the killer's info. It was like that to decide what the reader can infer.

hey... good point guys. (meaning everybody. not just the boyz.) LOL!

hiya y'all doing goog?

Arthur "Boo" Radley didn't stay inside ALL his life. When he was a kid he was outside, when he put the blanket on Scout he went outside, when he saved Scout from Robert Ewell he was outside. All clues point to Arthur being the culprit, but Harper Lee made a good thinking idea for its reader by leaving out the killer's info. It was like that to decide what the reader can infer.

Bob Ewell fell on his knife because he was tripped by something and the knife when into his ribs and killed him

Source(s)

to kill a mockingbird

Yes, that's exactly what happened. Bob Ewell fell on his knife because Boo Radley was fighting with him. so Bob died of his own knife.

So he technically killed himself.

Bob Ewell fell on his knife.

Bob Ewell fell on his knife, END OF STORY GOODBYE!

Boo R.

I didn't know the answer to this either, but then rereading helps. From textual evidence you can safely assume that it was Boo, but the proof is in this quote, "Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, AND OUR LIVES." (Page 373) That can't be a coincidence.

Source(s)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The one who killed Bob Ewell was Boo Radley, probably because he was trying to protect Scout. The switchblade that Heck Tate had taken off a "drunk man" actually belonged to Bob. The reason, I think at least, you can tell it was Boo Radley who killed Bob is the kitchen knife and Bob's location. He was not only in front of the Radley house, but the kitchen knife was a strange choice to have. A switchblade was more expected of a man like Bob Ewell who was out to harm. However, if you were coming out of a house, a kitchen knife is more probable to have.

Boo radley. bob tried to attack the kids on account, he fell on his own knife. he deserved it

Source(s)

yeah right he deserved it!

Just finished the book and I am writing about "how it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." Heck Tate presented it as if Bob Ewell found a kitchen knife in the dump and the switchblade was somebody else's but in reality it was Bob Ewell's. What happened was that Bob Ewell did grab Scout and try to stab her. But then Boo flung him back and stabbed him with the kitchen knife. Read it carefully Jem breaks his arm before Bob Ewell assaults Scout it's pretty damn obvious thanks.

Source(s)

How to Kill a Mockingbird and my brain

he wanted to die himself.

Source(s)

my opinion

Ben makes a good point. I should agree with you Ben...(is that ok?)

Well, obviously you all dont know who did it. Arthur Radley killed Bob. Bob did not mean to kill himself. Why can't you all see that? Besides, Jem wouldn't've gotten a broken arm if Bob hadn't attacked them. How can Bob be so stupid?

Ben, let me tell you, it wasn't bob's knife. it was boo's knife. end of argument!

M&M's

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