Fear in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay Example

Fear is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc.”(Dictionary.com). In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, fear affects three important characters in the small town of Maycomb Alabama, during the 1930s. Due to the fear, characters such as Tom Robinson. Who is a young African- American man, Scout Finch, a young girl, and Mayella Ewell, an innocent misunderstood girl, who all go through hard situations that lead to fear. 

To begin, in To Kill a Mockingbird,  Tom Robinson is a character that experiences fear often. Tom facing fear consists of being accused of rape and dealing with Bob Ewell often. When Tom first came to town, the Old Sarum Bunch went down to the jail where Tom was at “They gone?” Tom asks, fearing his life (Lee 145). This is one of the many situations that Tom is in that brings fear into play and is affected by it. Another time that fear was in play was when Tom was on the stand and is recalling everything that happened to him when he went to help Mayella Ewell. When Atticus is asking why Tom ran when Bob Ewell saw him in his house in fear “n*gger liked me, you be scared, too” all because of the color of his skin(Lee 195). As Tom faces fear in many ways and different situations, this one makes Tom have to recall all the fear he felt. Both of these situations are not the only time Tom faces fear. Other times such as Mr. Gilmer, questioning Tom harshly. When Mr. GIlmer started questioning Tom about why he ran away from the house so fast as if he was guilty Tom replied, “No suh, I’s scared I’d be in court, just like I am now” (Lee 198). There are many times Tom faces fear, some have affected him in different ways than others. There are numerous examples of Tom being faced with heat. One of the most life-altering was when Tom was being attacked by Bob Ewell thinking that Tom had done something to Mayella. All together, Tom constantly faces fear about situations he should not have to worry about. All together Tom faces the fear that no one else has to go through, there are many moments in the story where fear is shown. 

To continue, in To Kill a Mockingbird Scout is another character that is greatly impacted by fear. Scout may be a young girl but she experiences fear often and in many different situations. Scout's fears are mainly Boo Radley and Bob Ewell. Scout is afraid of Bob Ewell because she got attacked by him. When Jem and Scout are walking home from the school they hear someone following them, at first they think it is  Cecil Jacobs but later find out it is not. When Scout and Jem Just got attacked Scout thinks the worst “is Jem dead?”  to find out he is only Sleeping(Lee 263). This is one of the many times scout experiences fear throughout her life.  Scout is a young girl who believes most rumors that she hears. One of them is about Boo Radley. Many people think that he did awful things to his parents and do many creepy activities at night. One day the three friends were bored and decided to roll someone in a tire, and the first option was Scout. When they rolled Scout in the tire she ended up in the Radley's yard. Since Scout hears all the horrific stories about Boo Radley she was terrified “as my shaking knees” to be in his front yard where she can hear him (Lee 38). This is one of the many other times Scout has to face fear throughout her life. Another time that she has to face fear is when she thinks something is under her bed “Can you look?” when she fears that there is a snake under her bed but ends up being Dill(Lee 139). Fear fro scout appears in various situations like being attacked, thinking that Jem may be dead and many others as well. 

In addition, another character in To Kill a Mockingbird that faces fear is Mayella Ewell. Mayella Ewell's father Bob Ewell is not the best father a young girl could have. Her father spends more money on alcohol than his kid's well-being. Mayella has accused Tom Robinson of rape, she said that she asked him to come to help her in the house and then he was all over her the next minute. Bob said that he heard a scream  “Mayella screamin´ like a stuck hog” and then he saw Tom on top of her doing things to her(Lee 172).  One another example is that Mayella had experienced fear in another situation. Another is when Mayella is on the stand and Atticus is asking her questions about her father  “cept when-”  as if she was scared to answer truthfully(Lee 183). This is one of many of how her father puts fear on her. Mayella does not come from a good family, they are not the cleanest, the money that they earn goes to other items such as alcohol. Since Mayella does not come from a clean house and a good family some may wonder what kind of life she is living and how good it is. Some may wonder if she faces fear living in the house with an alcoholic father and no one to look after her. Her father and family are not the only ones that make her fear people. When Atticus was asking Mayella at first she thought that he was making fun of her  “Don’t want him doin’ me” when he was just showing her his respect and patience(Lee 179). To conclude, Mayella is constantly having to face fear in the worst ways possible. She has gone through so much that a young girl should have in her life. 

To conclude, three important characters experienced fear in different ways, Scout experienced hers from Boo Radley and being attacked by Bob Ewell. Tom and Mayella experience theirs from Bob Ewell and the court. Through all of the hardships that led to fear, the character and readers learn how to face and deal with fear.