Mayella Ewell Character Analysis Essay

As a result of the Ewell’s living behind the Maycomb county dump, Mayella is looked down on. “We’ll convict this Negro but get back to your dump (Doc A).” This quote shows that though Mayella had won the case against Tom Robinson, the Ewells were still thought of as nothing. “White people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs; Negroes [the Ewell’s nearest neighbors] wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she was white (Doc E).” Powerful white people looked down on Mayella because she lived in filth; black people would not either because she was white. “Long as he keeps callin’ me Ma’am and sayin’ Miss Mayella, I don’t hafta take his sass (Doc C).” Mayella is not used to being respected as she is poor and is not treated fairly. This shows how Mayella’s class ties with her power.

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 is powerful in regards to her race; however, she is not powerful in regards to her gender and social class. One of the many challenges Mayella Ewell faces dealing with power is her social class. Mayella is far from wealthy and her father has a bad reputation. While at Tom Robinson’s trial, Scout explains, “Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was once a Negro cabin” (Lee Document A).

Though Mayella’s testimony is naturally trusted more by the jury than Tom’s because of their racial differences, the real reason why Mayella’s powerful monologue during the trial is given importance and seen as truthful is because of her position as a white woman. One of the central tenets of Southern hospitality and tradition that emerges during the novel is the protective and gentlemanlike behavior of men towards women. When Mayella states “That N-word yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all

Mayella obtain power throughout the trial in regards To her race because it would be more believable to hear from a white woman rather than a black man. Thus, Tom is afraid of Mayella’s power because she is white. While the jury is still deciding, Reverend Sykes tells Jem “don't you be so confident, Mr. Jem,” because he is not certain that the jury will not convict a black man (Lee Document D). There is doubt with everyone who is on Tom's side because a black person has never won a case against a white man. Therefore, Mayella's power is demonstrated through her race because Tom and the black community feel threatened by her racial

Mayella Ewell is a nineteen year old girl who lives in the town of Maycomb. Mayella is white, has a home, a family, and has a little bit of education, so you would think her life would be great. Sadly it is not, Mayella is abused physically and sexually by her father Bob Ewell since her mother ran away, she is also very poor with six other siblings, and no one is very kind to Mayella because she is poor. Mayella is very lonely with no friends and no one treating her nice, but that all changes when Tom Robinson, a colored man, who is kind enough to help Mayella out with chores and treats her like a human being, but this was a start of a bad beginning. (“‘Why were you so anxious to do that woman’s chores?’

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

In the courtroom, Mayella is being asked questions in regards to her father. Based on Scout’s perspective, “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,”(Document B). Mayella is a victim of violence; as a result, she fears her father because she has no control or dominance over him. Because of society and stereotypical people, females are generally conceived as dependent and fragile human beings. Her father expects her to be obedient and another stereotype in Maycomb. Mayella is left with no choice but to show submission and vulnerability. By doing so, she is acting like a puppet following the orders of her puppeteer. Her father is a constant reminder of her weakness. She is allowing society’s stereotypes to poison and take over her. Mayella conforms to being nothing but weak and invisible. Soon enough these ideals will invade her entirely causing her to feel powerless. All in all, it is evident that Mayella’s gender is another reason she could be classified as

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

Her father was abusive, and she had no one to talk to. Every day, she would do all the work around the house, and take care of the children, with no help. Tom was most likely the only person to ever show her kindness and politeness, the only one to ever stop to help her and talk to her. The black people wouldn’t have anything to do with the Ewells because they were white, and the white people wouldn’t have anything to do with them because they lived like pigs, among the blacks. The prejudices other people held towards them was what caused them to act the way they did in the first place. We see that although what Mayella was doing was horrible, she had reasons to do it. She is a victim of social pressures, of prejudice, and the effects these things have on her family.

Even though that she lied Mayella still one the case and everybody knew that Tom Robinson was innocent and the curse of the Maycomb County lives. Adversity takes many shapes and it only takes one mistake to mess it up. Mayella Ewell is a round character because she knows that Tom Robinson is innocent but she keeps insisting that she is right and lying to their face about it

When Atticus asks her what porch she was on, she says, “Ain’t but one…”. She is uneducated and did not go to school. Not being educated shows when she is testify on the stand, which also shows she does not understand or know much. In addition, she is rude to Atticus when he asks her questions. She is sassy and thinks that Atticus is making fun of her. She has never been treated with respect, so she can not treat others with respect. Also, Mayella would be sassy towards Atticus when she would have to answer a question that was already asked to her. She knows that Atticus has proven her wrong because of all the evidence that goes against what she is saying. Finally, when Atticus ask her who really beat her, she does not answer the question. She probably was beaten by her father because the evidence shows that she was punched by someone who is left-handed. She knows that she did something wrong but she does not want to be the one to get in trouble for it. Even though she tried to being very convincing, the people in the courthouse could tell that she was lying. Mayella is lonely girl who wanted attention from the wrong

Claim #1: This novel educates students about the racism and prejudice that was present in the 1930’s (reword claim) Support #1: Firstly, one of the main types of racism seen in the novel is racism towards black people. Evidence #1: “He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘—I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!’” **find different quote if possible** Elaboration #1: It is much easier to accuse a black man of committing a crime and have the whole town believe it, rather than a white man. It is Bob Ewell, not Tom Robinson, who had raped Mayella. Mayella does not want to tell the truth because she knows that If her father goes to jail there will be no one to support the family. Also, she is embarrassed of her actions and wishes to protect herself. If she tells the court that she was the one who advanced upon Tom, the people of Maycomb would look down upon her.

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

She is an Ewell, the family that make up the special social class of “the white trash of Maycomb”. Although many of the citizens identify her as another member of the useless and trashy family, she shows more similarities to a lonely and broken young lady. The Ewell’s live near Maycomb’s garbage dump, some unclean property full of garbage, but hidden within all the junk are six lonesome red geranium. These flowers are something Mayella takes tender and careful care of. These flowers can be interpreted as the light at the end of the tunnel for Mayella, her escape from the filthy and treacherous life she is confided in. During the trial of Tom Robinson, Mayella is play along in her father’s plan of keeping his own self out of the picture because she is scared of the terrible outcome that will happen if she does otherwise, Mayella is trapped into Bob’s ruling. Atticus addresses Mayella in a well mannered and polite way that makes her think she is being mocked. Along with that, the Ewell’s accuse Tom for the rapping of Mayella when it turns out he is nothing but the victim the young lady after all. Mayella was lonely and in search of the affection and attention that all people need. This shows the readers and children that Mayella is not used to and clueless of specific and proper treatment since she is unexposed to the real-world. The potential she has to be flourish into something better is diminished due to the conditions she is given, she is forced to be cut off from a decent