Chapters 22-27 in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird come after the trial of Tom Robinson is over. These chapters chronicle the effects of the trial on certain people who were involved in it. For example, Tom Robinson's death is reported in chapter 24, which ends any possibility for Atticus to make an appeal on his behalf. Another character who doesn't recover from the trial is Bob Ewell. As a result, he seeks revenge on people...
Chapters 22-27 in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird come after the trial of Tom Robinson is over. These chapters chronicle the effects of the trial on certain people who were involved in it. For example, Tom Robinson's death is reported in chapter 24, which ends any possibility for Atticus to make an appeal on his behalf. Another character who doesn't recover from the trial is Bob Ewell. As a result, he seeks revenge on people whom Ewell feels disgraced him during the trial, such as Helen Robinson, Judge Taylor and Atticus Finch. Helen doesn't do anything to Ewell except becomes Tom's widow; but since Tom dies in prison, Ewell takes it upon himself to harass her just because he thinks he can. He follows her to work, chunks at her, and shouts obscenities at her. It takes Link Deas to threaten him for Ewell to back off.
Then, Ewell threatens the Judge by slicing the Taylors' backdoor screen with a knife one Sunday night. Ewell doesn't like Judge Taylor because he appointed Atticus to defend Tom in the trial against the Ewells. This proves to Ewell that Judge Taylor isn't exactly on his side, so Ewell threatens him a little to spook him. He doesn't dare do much more where Judge Taylor is concerned, though.
Other events in these chapters show Ewell blaming Atticus for his losses in life, spitting in Atticus's face in chapter 23, and also threatening to kill him. Ewell is most offended by Atticus because it is Atticus who proves to the town that Ewell is a liar. Therefore Ewell can't let things go because he feels his has been completely insulted and must seek revenge.
All of these minor events follow one upon the other in chapters 22-27 in an effort to build suspense leading up to the night when Atticus's children are attacked in chapter 28. Lee shows her villain grow progressively worse in his behavior with each chapter until Ewell's attack actually gets himself killed rather than the kids.
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