How Is Mayella Ewell A Sympathetic Character

Mayella back tracks and changes her story. "No, I don't recollect if he hit me. I... mean...yes! he hit me... he hit me!" (Foot 61) Bob is a drunk, therefore, his testimony cannot be believed. This shows that Mayella could have very well been set up, or told what to say, because she didn't know what to say in the first place, and it also shows that Bob could have been the perpetrator; because he is left-handed, his story is different and, he can't even be trusted with his own kids, so why trust his testimony? Their stories are different so their accusations cannot be trusted fully, another reason that the Tom Robinson case should have never come to

Tom Robinson, a hard working African American, was on his way home when Mayella asked him to come inside. She thought he would do her the attraction she never got. Tom felt sorry for her and pity toward her. “No, I don't recollect if he hit me” (185). She used his pity for her to end up getting Tom sent to prison for rape and killed in the end all because of the fear of her father's wrath.

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

She is going against the word of an african-american in the 1930’s so this persuades the jury to believe what she says. Tom Robinson is a very kind and trustworthy man. All he ever wanted to do was help Mayella, but he knew he would be suspected of something. In Document D, he states “Like I says before, it weren’t safe… to be in a - fix like that.” He is saying he knew he was not suppose to be helping Miss Mayella, but he did it anyway because that was just the type of person he was. Mayella uses his skin color against him in court and it is very helpful for

The Ewells, of which Mayella is a member, are the bottom of the white hierarchy in Maycomb because of their laziness, filthiness, and overall impression as white trash. Mayella, who is portrayed as an exception to this trend, most notably when the author describes her germanium plants as beautiful flowers, is stuck in a world she cannot live in. Also, her father both physically and sexually abuses her in the book, which adds to Mayella’s pain and suffering. At one point in the trial though, Mayella, under fierce questioning from Atticus, “became articulate” and states “I’ve got something to say” on page 188, indicating she wants to tell the truth. However, the fear of both her father’s retribution and the town’s reaction prompts her to lambast the jury instead. Furthermore, Mayella faces an internal conflict between her real affection for Tom and the social realities of her time. Mayella is torn between this struggle and her father’s actions, so she accuses Tom of rape as a coping mechanism and under duress. In fact, Mayella can be compared to Ruth in The Color of Water in that both were abused by their fathers and experienced rough childhoods marked by vicious discrimination and a sense of loneliness.

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.

During the Tom Robinson case it is awfully clear that Mayella Ewell is lying about what happened that night. The question is why she did it. The two reasons I believe that motivated her to lie is loneliness and being scared of her father. One of her motives would be loneliness because she had no friends; therefore, this might make her have some new friends. During the trial Atticus asks Mayella “ A nineteen-year-old girl like you must have friends. Who are your friends? The witness frowned as if puzzled. Friends”? (Lee 245). Scout explained that “ When Atticus asked had she any friends, she seemed not to know what he meant” (Lee 256). Mayella was confused and believed that Atticus was making fun of her in front of everyone. Not only did she not have friends her family do not take care of

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 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

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 often mentally, physically, and sexually abused by her father Bob Ewell. Even though Mayella takes care of her siblings each day, she is lonely most of the time, considering nobody wants to be around her. Her father abuses her and beats her often, and Mayella wants the abuse to come to an end. Mayella comes up with and fulfills a plan to end the abuse coming from her father. Her plan involved a Negro man named Tom Robinson. Mayella accuses Tom of beating and raping her, and brings Tom to court, and goes up against him in a trial. Her plan was successful and came out in her favor because she was manipulative, and she knew what it took to win the trial. Mayella Ewell, a poor, white woman, who lives on a dump, is seen as

(“DBQ: Is Mayella Ewell Powerful?” 7). The Jim Crow Laws made Mayella’s accusation of Tom raping her even worse.

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

People feel sympathy towards those that are believed to be unlikely to lie, and Mayella took advantage of this. During the trial, Scout realizes that “Tom Robinson was a dead man the moment [Mayella] opened her mouth to scream” (Lee 323), which is mainly because she was given sympathy. When she tells her story about the events that happened between her and Tom Robinson, the audience pities her, and she is described as “[. . .] fragile looking, but when she sat facing us in the witness chair, she became what she was, a thick-bodied girl accustomed to strenuous labor” (Lee 239). They describe her as someone who looks strong and controlled, but also as frail and fragile. Even though her life is not on the line, the people in the courtroom believe her to need more protection because of her fragile appearance. After Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell spit in his face, Atticus responds to his children by saying “if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take” (Lee 293). Even the lawyer that shows the town that she was guilty pities her, even after she denies her lies and lets a young man die. In this situation, race is a contributing role towards this sudden acceptance, because in the society that these characters live, individuals with white skin are often viewed as less likely to commit sin

Mayella is really terrified of her father because he beats her and doesn’t do any good for her.“It’s an easy question, Miss Mayella, so I’ll try again. Do you remember him beating you about the face?” “No, I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me.” “Was your last sentence your answer?” This was a conversation between Atticus and Mayella. Mayella was trying so hard to give the answers her father wanted that way her father wouldn’t beat her anymore. In the end Mayella is just a scared little girl who doesn’t want to get hurt. “I said come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you. He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an‘ I went in the house to get him the nickel and I turned around an ’fore I knew it he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did. He got me round the neck, cussin‘ me an’ sayin‘ dirt—I fought’n’hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me agin an‘ agin—” Mayella is contradicting herself here. She keeps going back and forth on whether or not she was beat by Tom or not. Lying can get you somewhere but not for long. You’ll start to feel guilty sooner or