Mayella Ewell In To Kill A Mockingbird

Mayella had a great amount of power in the courtroom during the trial of Tom Robinson. This completely classless manipulative woman used the disadvantages she was dealt in life to her benefit. She made advances toward this black man, when he did not reciprocate those feelings she accused him of rape. He is convicted and sent to prison because of her. Through this, she also gains power that removes her from her father’s sexual abuse. He does not want her because of the relations with a

Mayella Ewell is scared of her father and is concerned about her well being during the trial. She is a very nice girl but she has to lie about Tom Robinson so that her father would not beat her over it. She also doesn’t like how Atticus is talking to her because she has never been talked to in a formal way before. During the trial she says, “Love him, whatcha mean?” This shows that she has never been loved by her father, and she is the person that Mr. Ewell can take his anger out on (183). She also repeated everything her father said like they had rehearsed it. Finally, when Atticus starts asking her questions her calls her “ma'am” and “ miss”. So she started to cry and says, “Long’s you keep on makin’ fun o’me” this shows that she has not

The author portray Mayella Ewell as a symbol of ignorant innocence warped into an outlet of evil, specifically the strain of racism. She is the victim of horrible and abusive influence. Her character development and testimony truly show this in the book. When Atticus begins to cross examine her on the witness her weak character begins to shed light on the lies her father installed into her head. Not only is her memory foggy due to the strenuous abuse, but also she lies on oath. “No answer. ‘What did your father see in the window, the crime of rape or the best defense to it? Why don’t you tell the truth, child, didn’t Bob Ewell beat you up?.’” (Lee 187). As her testimony continues, it is self-evident that Mayella is not being fully truthful and her father emotionally, physically and sexually exploits her. Mayella is forced to keep her and her father’s secret under safe keeping, but some of her account and questioning sheds light on the raw ways of Bob Ewell and the keeping of his family. “‘Do you love your Father, Miss Mayella?’ was his next. ‘Love him, watcha mean?’ ‘I mean, is he good to you, is he easy to get along with?’ ‘He does tollable, ‘cept when--’ ‘Except when?’ Mayella looked at her father, who was sitting with his chair tipped against the railing. He sat up straight and waited for her to answer.” (Lee 183). Through slight inconsistencies and small actions as her time of the witness it is easy to tell that Mayella knows her father’s wrongdoing and that she is being used for his evil purposes.

Due to Mayella's race she gains power. Mayella is white, living in the 1930's time period. So she will have very little power. The jury will take the side of a white woman over the side of a negro man. This is the only power that Mayella has and uses her race to her advantage in a bad way.

Mayella Ewell is a tragic character in To Kill a Mockingbird. She is faced with many struggles involving her family and the people around her. Although Mayella is a poor white woman with an abusive father, no mother, and six siblings to take care of she does have power. Mayella Ewell is powerful as a character and continues to gain power in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird when it comes to race, class and gender. Despite Mayella being very poor and in a lower class of the society in Maycomb Alabama she uses her status as a white female to manipulate others into deciding in her favor when dealing with her court case against Tom Robinson regarding him being wrongfully accused of

In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Mayella Ewell is the conflict of the story. To challenge herself to see if she is powerful based on class, gender, and race. Mayella is powerful due to her race; however, she would not be powerful due to her class and gender. One might think she is powerful over all; however, she does not have power in the eyes of some readers. Proceeding on to see if Mayella has power in race.

Mayella is a poor white girl that isn’t highly educated. This is shown during the courtroom scene where Atticus questions her. “Long’s he keeps callin’ me ma’am and Miss Mayella”. The judge had to elucidate this quote so Mayella would understand. This quote shows she never gets called those names before. Mayella has little power because of her class.

Mayella Ewell was a 19 year old girl who carried the weight of her own family. With a father who drinks up the money received from the government and a mother who died when Mayella was just a young girl; life was not easy for her. The Ewell family was known for farming and living right by the towns dump. Everything Mayella knew was taught by self experience. Mayella was a victim of abuse from both her family and society, however that still does cover that she was a true villain in the end.

This shows that she is not used to being respected. All this shows that Mayella does not have power because of her gender and social

It is definite that Mayella’s gender will help her in the trial against Tom

Mayella Ewell is a good representation of both Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. “[Ruby] was given little chance to do anything but follow the lead of Victoria, so much quicker and garrulous.” (Ransdell). This quote describes Victoria as more garrulous than Ruby, and Mayella has both the shyer qualities of Ruby, but the talkative qualities of Victoria. Lee wrote her this way, as she is the false accuser in Tom’s Trial, as Ruby and Victoria in the Scottsboro Trial. If we delve deeper into Mayella’s experiences with her father, and him persuading (or threatening) her to accuse Tom, this can be compared to Victoria and Ruby being bribed by two lawyers to change their testimony. They were both asked to do something they did not want to do, and we can tell this with this quote from To Kill a Mockingbird: “Mayella jumped slightly at [Atticus’ question].” (Lee 246). Atticus had asked a question she was not prepared for, and had to think of an answer, that would satisfy Atticus and her father, but not her. Victoria and Ruby did not want to admit they were spending time with African-Americans, as that fact would destroy their images. The characterization of Mayella is based off the actions and feelings of Victoria and Ruby. The Juries in both stories were very harsh against the defendant(s). In the Scottsboro trial, the Jury obviously wanted all

Mayella Ewell is not powerful in regards to her social class, because she is fairly poor. Mayella lives near the town dump with her dad, Bob Ewell, the town drunk. While the trial was in session, Atticus asked Mayella

The first factor in determining Mayella’s power is her gender, female. Although men were always in charge at this time, women had the power to influence men emotionally. In the southern United States, respecting women has always been a large part of the culture. Men would likely feel the need to “defend” her

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the character Mayella Ewell, portrays an interesting model of power. Mayella is not powerful in terms of class,gender, or race. Mayella’s family exists at the very bottom of the white social hierarchy. Her power is extremely limited.

Mayella may come off as an idiot because she “sat silently” when asked what happened (179). She also thinks Atticus is “mockin’ (her)” when he calls her “ma’am” and “miss” (181). But truly, Mayella is just a product of being alone, trapped, and forced to be independent. Without needed care and love she was forced to try to find it herself. Throwing herself onto Tom was an act of desperate need for attention. I think with proper care she could be like everyone else. There is also another side of her, one that does well with what she has. Mayella “tried to keep clean” (179). She also takes care of her flowers. Harper Lee created a character that is slightly relatable but truly understandable. The problems Mayella faces are more severe than needed to be relatable. But what you can understand is her situation. I feel like I understand her need for affection but I would not go to the extremes of throwing myself onto someone. The seemingly logical ways in which Mayella acts at times, make the readers feel sympathy for her. Even though we know she is lying and that the case was racist and unfair, it’s hard to blame her. The lying and