What Does Heck Tate Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

Level One: In chapter 30 on pages 369-370, Atticus and Sheriff Heck Tate are arguing over who killed Bob Ewell. Mr. Ewell just attacked Jem and Scout as revenge for Atticus humiliating him in court. Ewell was found dead by Heck Tate, with a knife in his chest. Atticus believes that Jem killed him and that Heck is trying to cover it up for Jem. However, Heck Tate insisted that Bob Ewell killed himself and fell on his own knife. Tate knows that Arthur (Boo) Radley, was the real murderer, but he is trying to protect him. Arthur does not like attention and prefers to be alone. Knowing that, Heck wants to protect him from the attention he will get when people find out how he saved Jem and Scout and killed Bob Ewell. Atticus agrees to go with Heck Tate's story because he knows it's the

First of all, we see Sheriff Heck Tate taking control and putting his foot down. Atticus thought he was trying to protect Jem, but he is actually trying to protect Arthur Radley. He says, “let the dead bury the dead” which means he wants to just let it go and say that Bob Ewell killed himself. (Lee 369) Tate also says, “I’m not a very good man, sir, but I am sheriff of Maycomb County,” he means that he may not be a good man but he still wants to help Arthur who would hate all of the attention. (Lee 369) He says that what Arthur did isn't against the law, because he was trying to help Jem and Scout. There is no real reason for telling people that he killed Bob Ewell. Heck Tate understands that Arthur is very shy and wouldn't like “all the ladies in Maycomb [...] knocking on his door bringing angel food cakes.” (Lee 369) Tate ends up stomping off and leaving in a hurry because he is trying to assert his dominance. Scout understands that Atticus needs cheering up, and what they were talking about. The scene ends with Atticus saying, “thank you for my children, Arthur” and acknowledging what he did for his family. (Lee