Mayella's Monologue

if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me." (ch 18). The uncertainness of Mayella's

First of all the character Mayella Ewell is first revealed as the victim in the case against Tom Robinson but in reality

When questioned Mayella Ewell seemed very confident about her statement, but within her confidence seemed to be doubt. She shows doubt within her statement through Scot examining her character when being questioned by her lawyer, Mr. Gilmer. This is evident when scout thinks: “Apparently Mayella's recital had given her had given her confidence but it was not her father's brash kind: there was something stealthy about her’s, like a steady - eyed cat with a twitchy tail.” ( Lee Page 190). This shows the doubt within her statement because it means even a child like scout can see there's something she's hiding behind her big front. Another time Mayella shows doubt

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.

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

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.

Tom’s lower lip trembled. “It’s my fault,” he whispered, his eyes shiny with tears. “I was so young, and I didn't know how to stop...”

She most likely ss criticizing Atticus for having money because she grew up with little money. Since the trial had begun many people have threatened Atticus this includes Mayella's Dad Bob Ewell. Not only did Bob Ewell threaten Atticus but he also threatened his family. When people threaten your family in some cases you may lose your anger and get in a fight with that person. Since Atticus is responsible and has respect for others he just stood there as Bob threatened, and spit in his face. He was trying not to make the situation worse or let it get out of hand by just standing there. Atticus could have threatened him back or he could have said something rude. Since he was respectful and has responsibilities he acted as if he did not care what Bob said to him and walked away. "I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of

Mayella ran from the truth when put on the stand in front of the court even after taking the oath. What makes her

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

Mayella does not have power involving social class, The Ewells are a poor family, and her father, Bob Ewell, is looked down upon by the town. During Tom Robinson’s trial, Bob Ewell thought of himself as “a hero, but all he got for his pain was… okay we’ll convict this Negro, but get back to your dump” (Lee

Mayella Ewell is one of Bob Ewell’s kids. The Ewells live in a shack behind the dump. Mayella is the oldest of eight kids and is nineteen years old. She attacks a man named Tom and kisses him. When her daddy saw that he drove Tom off and then beat Mayella badly.

Little does she know and to her greatest misfortune, the less questions she answers, the guiltier she looks. Throughout Tom Robinson’s “interrogation”, he remains perfectly fine, though with a hint of nervousness undoubtedly proves Mayella and her father wrong and “mistaken in th’ mind”. Tom quotes what Mayella clearly did on the day of the alleged rape, and he states, “...she’d grabbed me around the legs..she reached up an’ kissed me ‘side of th’ face.” (194) Tom also states what Bob had said to Mayella with hesitation, due to children being present stating it with absolute assurance of the words used by Bob Ewell, “...you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya.” (194) After the vulgar remark that Bob supposedly shouted at Mayella, their [Mayella and Bob’s] body language and hostility became known to the wholeness of the court, not making them look too innocent on their part. Not only does their body language give them a bad case, but so does their rudeness, by using the utmost amount of discourteous and ill-mannered language towards Atticus and

Mayella is not powerful in regards to her social status because the Ewells are known to be poor and disruptive. Scout describes Mayella’s home, “Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was one a Negro cabin,” (Lee Document A). When Scout

Firstly, Mayella Ewell lived a life with limited social interaction and no friends. During Atticus’ questioning, He asked, “‘A nineteen-year-old girl must have friends, who are your friends?’ The witness frowned as if puzzled, ‘friends?’” (208) Mayella didn’t even know the definition of the word friend;