Family Dynamics In To Kill A Mockingbird

A Comparison of the Different Family Dynamics in Maycomb County
Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird shows how much the environment one is raised can affect one’s future. Atticus raises Scout and Jem in a relaxed and loving environment, whereas Bob Ewell raises his children in a house filled with anger. When one compares Atticus Finch 's’ parenting style, and its impact on his children to Bob Ewell’s lack of parenting and the way that affected his children, one is able to see just how much one’s home determines one 's life.
One’s upbringing is the main factor that determines one’s personality and attitude, as shown in the Finch family. Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem’s father is a very open minded man, and attempts to instil this in his children. The effect Atticus’s words have on Scout is very clear when Scout says: ‘“ Atticus says cheatin’ a colored man is ten times worse than cheating’ a white man (sic)” (Lee 201). Atticus recognizes the struggles people of colour face, and tries to show his children that skin colour does not matter. Not only are Scout and Jem’s

In addition to being uneducated, Bob Ewell is a rude man, and has managed to pass this trait onto his children. During the first day of school Chuck Little, a boy in Scout’s class describes Burris Ewell as “‘a mean one, a hard-down mean one’” (Lee 27). As his children grew up, Bob Ewell met them with only anger. In addition to being rude and angry, Bob Ewell is also very racist. His children have adopted his views that black people are below them, as demonstrated when Mayella says: “I said come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me” (Lee 241) when she describes her interaction with Tom Robinson the day of the alleged rape. Although Mayella was attracted to Tom Robinson, she is unable to let go of her prejudices, and still refers to him using a