Robert E. Lee "Bob" Ewell is a vile, racist, and cruel man who is shown in the 1960 Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird to have an extreme hatred and disrespect for black people. He is also the irresponsible and selfish leader of the Ewell clan, who seeks to become a hero in the eyes of Maycomb County by incriminating Tom Robinson and having him thrown in jail.