To Kill A Mockingbird Rumors

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird we learn that Atticus is defending a black man named Tom Robinson in court. Tom Later reveals during the trial that he helped Mayella Ewell, the girl that is accusing him for raping and beating her, with a couple of household chores and states that he "felt sorry for her" (Lee 264) because "she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em" (Lee 264) This showing of empathy from Tom Robinson brought his ultimate downfall when he was convicted by a full jury of whites even though she was made a liar when she was questioned by Atticus. The jury stubbornly believed that her word was better than Tom's because she was

By the end of this case, you will see that Mayella Ewell is guilty of lying under oath. Members of the jury, the county, will review the evidence to show that Mayella Ewell is guilty of lying and forever changing Tom Robinson’s life. Mayella says, “He had me round the neck.

One of the most widely watched trials in Maycomb history ended Tuesday December 9th when a jury found Tom Robinson, 25, guilty of raping Mayella Violet Ewell, 19, daughter of Robert Ewell. The guilty verdict hinged on the testimony of Robert Ewell, who claimed to have seen the crime. Tom Robinson’s Attorney, Atticus Finch put up a strong defense, but was unsuccessful in convincing the jury of twelve white Maycomb county residents that Robinson, a black man, was innocent. Finch has stated that he was disappointed in the outcome, but will appeal the verdict. The prosecutor for the state, Horace Gilmer said “he felt Robinson had gotten what he deserved.” Robinson was taken into custody following the verdict. Any appeals will take several

I am reading the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This book is about a girl named Scout Finch who lives with her brother, Jem, and her father, Atticus, during the Great Depression. They live in a small town called Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb is a town where everybody knows everybody. There is currently a trial taking place; Mayella vs. Tom Robinson. Tom has been accused of rapeing Mayella. Tom has pleaded not guilty for the crime he has been accused of. In this journal I will be evaluating Tom’s character and questioning why the Ewells may be lying.

Tom Robinson, a hard-working gentleman of color, found guilty for rapping nineteen year old Mayella Ewell although, he is innocent. More than that, Robinson is found guilty because of a prejudiced jury.

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.

Mayella Ewell was white, giving her a great amount of power in race over Tom Robinson. In the courtroom, Tom Robinson was called “boy”, which was completely inappropriate because he was a young man, not at all a “boy”. On the other hand, Mayella was politely called “ma’am”, and “Miss” (Doc C). This type of language shows how much power your skin color meant in the 1930’s. Tom Robinson was not even able to say he felt sorry for Mayella without putting the case at risk, however he did that. Mayella Ewell didn’t win the case because she was telling the truth, she won because the color of her skin. Her story is believed because she was simply

Mayella Ewell had the chance to put the real rapist to prison, but instead she backed him up and now she has to live with him and with that decision the rest of her life. Tom was at the witness stand when Atticus asked him about Mr. Ewell said: “Tom Robinson shut his eyes tight. “ He says you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya””(Document B). Mr. Ewell has complete power over his Mayella and this exhibits how he has power over her.

So what better way to get rid of his daughter’s sin, then to set up a trail to kill Mr. Robinson, and cover up his charges he would have faced of assault, at the same time. We know that Mr.Ewell beat Mayella in the heat of anger because Mayella tempted a black man. (Lee, 272) Mr.Ewell tried to blame Tom of beating Mayella, but Tom only had one good arm, and that was his left. (Lee, 315) The medical professional came in and said that someone with a dominant right arm, which is the arm that Tom couldn’t use, beat Mayella. Mr.Ewell, on the other hand, claims that he can “write with both hands” as stated in the trial against Mr.Robinson. Mr. Ewell claimed that Tom had raped his daughter, yet there is no evidence to any medical report or any phone calls to a medical professional that Mayella was beaten, or raped. (Lee, 271) If Ewell cared for Mayella, why wouldn't he have called, we knew he had a phone, given that he called the sheriff to report the rape. (Lee,

This event further impacts the story by making Tom Robinson look like he abused Mayella, when the jury thinks Ewell did it, But know that a father wouldn’t abuse his own daughter, right? There’s no accurate proof that Bob Ewell did do this, but the jury thinks he did it, while Bob says Tom Robinson committed this crime.

Rumors spread like wildfire, but when the rumor spreads each time it is told it is changed. A new detail is added, a bit of flare is put in to make it even more exciting. Rumors are not the truth they are not even close to the truth, yet people seem to believe rumors more than what the truth actually is. Due to this gossip and these rumors we get people like Boo Radley who are largely misunderstood and who have been given a reputation built on the fantasies of others. These stories that are spread make an innocent man look like a monster in the eyes of the people. In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” gossip is something that Maycomb county thrives on. Thanks to Miss Stephanie Crawford everyone in Maycomb is an expert on anything and everything

Tom Robinson enters To Kill a Mockingbird accused of raping Mayella Ewell but leaves To Kill a Mockingbird dead. Atticus Finch the defendant in Tom Robinson’s case and the father of Jem and Scout, did not fail Robinson, Robinson’s family or his own because he tried his best to prove that Tom was not guilty. For example , Miss Ewell explained that the attacker in her testimony, Tom Robinson had force himself on her, began to hold to her by the neck and hit her repeatedly after she asked him to bust up a chiffarobe for her. Heck Tate, the sheriff and witness of the trial had said Mayella only had bruises on both the neck and right side of her face, this now raised a red flag for Atticus. For Robinson to beat Miss Ewell repeatedly on the right side of her face he would have to use his left arm which got caught in a cotton gin years before. The disability that Tom Robinson had created great evidence for Atticus’s defense but didn’t work because of the unjust community they both live in. Maybe it would have worked if the trial was held in a courtroom that is built on justice for all, not just for the white.

“I guess rumors are more exciting than the truth.”-Venus Williams. People spread rumors because they feel that it will interest them more than the truth. In some ways, creating rumors can give people a reason to for them to believe that something is more flared than what the actual truth is. In other words, this means that people elaborate and stretch the actual truth in a situation, rather than believing the astounding truth. Often times, this helps people compress the unknown, and fill in the gaps to the clues that don’t make sense. Not understanding the unknown is hard, and leads to people jumping to conclusions when they don't even know exactly what happened. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, rumors spread throughout the town creating stereotypes and changing many people’s once honorable reputation and unfairly forcing them to alter their way of life forever.

The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” has an urban legend hiding in the background. You might not see it at first but if you break down Boo Radley and pick him apart, you figure out there is a lesson to be told from his story.

Robinson was being accused of doing to Mayella. The jury took one look at Tom, and voted