Atticus Finch vs Mr Tate
Uploaded by 8drian on Jul 19, 2007
Context of To Kill A Mockingbird section
Context
In this section, Atticus is arguing with Mr Tate about the death of Bob Ewell. In the background of the drama, Scout was listening to what is being said. Atticus claims that Jem was the one that killed Bob Ewell by getting a “hold of Ewell’s knife somehow in the dark” but Mr Tate says that he fell on his own knife killing him. Both men are very stubborn and refuse to be persuaded easily.
Sub-context
Before the argument started, both Atticus and Mr Tate knew who murdered Bob Ewell. Atticus and Mr Tate are not actually arguing but trying to protect Arthur Radley who they both knew was the killer. They are both trying to confuse Scout who is listening to the conversation in the background. Both Atticus and Mr Tate are worried that Scout might tell people about what really happened that night which would expose the identity of Arthur Radley. At that night, there were two knives involved which meant that two men were at the struggle. Mr Tate and Atticus are trying to take away one knife leaving the kitchen knife the only one left in the case. Mr Tate did this by taking Mr Ewell’s switch-blade knife and pretending that he found it from a drunken man that night. If Atticus or Mr Tate uncovered that Arthur Radley saved Jem and Scout or murdered Bob Ewell, this would only put Arthur in the limelight of the situation which would disturb his peace that has been happening for 20 years already.