In exercising your imagination in trying to create a
metaphor of the knife and the shiftless Bob Ewell, you may wish to consider the
following:
1. A rusty knife appears
worthless, but it can still cause trouble. The citizens of Maycomb
perceive the area by the dump as one that no one would consider of any worth; the
occupants of this area have no social standing, they have no valuable
possessions. However, when the trial of Tom Robinson makes its presence know to all of
Maycomb, there are both conflict and stressful moments wrought by Bob and Mayella
Ewell.
2.It cannot cut
properly, instead tearing at a thing. Bob Ewell appears cocky in court,
sure that he will be instrumental in sentencing Tom for the murder; however, he sullies
and tears at all that is decent in Maycomb in language that is offensive, as
well.
3. Its appearance suggests there will
be problems. Just as one knows that the rusty knife will not work as
well as a new, sharpened knife, Atticus knows that he will have problems with Bob Ewell
who has evil intentions regarding Tom Robinson. For instance, he is a most uncooperative
witness and perjures himself in his
testimony.
4. If a person is cut by this
rusty knife, he/she may become infected. The attention that Ewell brings
to poor Tom Robinson infects the townspeople who talk of putting the blacks in their
place such as Mrs. Merriweather; it brings out mobs; it elicits name-calling of
Atticus.
5.It is still a knife and can do
harm, even when cast aside. After the trial, many felt that people would
simply return to their daily lives. However, Tom insults Atticus publicly, but Atticus
thinks the act is nothing; then, Ewell attacks his children, injuring Jem's arm
badly.
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