Opening Statement for Mayella Ewell Good afternoon, my name is Miranda Otremba, and today I will be representing Maycomb County to prove a woman is guilty of perjury. In this case, we see a woman caught up in her lies. Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about a woman embarrassed by her actions, leading her to lie to tell the truth. This woman stated that she had been raped, but based on the evidence, we can see that another crime, perjury, was committed. After hearing the evidence presented, we are confident that you will know that the defendant is guilty. Members of the jury, we will now review the evidence against Mayella Ewell, where we can see that the more you lie, the harder it gets to cover it up. During the trial, Mayella claimed that …show more content…
The second piece of evidence contradicts this when she states, “No, I don’t remember if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me” (Lee 248). Mayella stated, “My paw’s never touched a hair o’my head in my life” (Lee 246). Then we hear Tom declare “She says what her papa does to her doesn't count” (Lee 260). The last piece of evidence is, “She says she asked you to bust up a chiffarobe, is that right? No, suh, it ain’t” (Lee 264). As you can see, Mayella couldn’t decide if Tom hit her or didn’t. If someone hits you, this seems like something you could clearly remember. She said yes, and then she said no. One way or the other, she has to be lying. Tom’s story contradicts what Mayella said, so one of them has to have lied in court. Mayella said that her dad had never hit her, yet she hesitated when asked. She also had bruises and was choked around her neck. Tom can't do so because his left arm does not …show more content…
However, the evidence is little. The only evidence we have is what people have said, and now that we can see that Mayella committed perjury, we can not fully know the truth. Based on the evidence, we know that the person Mayella claimed raped and choked her did not have a working left arm. This would make it nearly impossible to choke someone fully around the neck. Therefore, Mayella lied about who hurt her. The defense may claim that Bob Ewell did not hit Mayella. Based on the evidence, we can see that Mayella said that kissing Tom Robinson wasn’t like what her father did to her. Based on her words, we know Bob has tried to bring harm to Mayella before. After Tom had been proven guilty, Bob Ewell was still mad about the case. He threatened to kill the kids of the lawyer who was fighting for Tom. This shows that he was angry about something that was revealed during the case. Based on his actions of threatening these kids, we can see that Bob Ewell has something to hide, which is the fact that he has harmed his children before. Therefore, even when the defense tries to prove that Mayella did not lie under oath, the evidence is
One of the key points that are point out in this case is that the eyewitness had variables that may have affected her memory causing her to point Williford as the culprit. One of these variables was weapon focus and its believed that the eyewitness focused more on the culprit’s weapon in this case it was a board used to beat and the gas used to set Foxworth on fire. The reason behind this is probably because of the unusualness of the weapons used in this attack thus causing the witness to focus more on the weapon than the culprit. Another argument that is being made in the validity of the eyewitness testimony is that she was exposed to information after the attack from newspaper causing the post-information effect. The cause of the effect in this case were that newspapers published pictures of the suspect which may have caused the witness to form false memories. It was also said that the eyewitness was shown a picture of Williford before picking him out of a photo array which is another potential way for the witness to form false memories associated with the picture. An additional point that’s made is because there were two other people involved in the attack that it would divert the attention of the eyewitness, thus causing her to remember fewer details about the culprits face. Despite all these arguments the witness stays with her choice of
Is Mayella Ewell powerful?That is the question that is asked and must be answered.Throughout the story” To kill a mockingbird” Mayella shows some glimpses of power, but not enough to say she is powerful.For example, in the beginning she shows that she cannot even control her home life so how can she be powerful.Also she shows that she is just too poor for her to have power.Now in the next three paragraphs I will explain my thinking on why I believe Mayella is not powerful.
The concept of a white woman being touched, let alone raped by an African American male was an assumption in the little town of Maycomb Alabama, 1930’s. During this period Mayella is considered helpless due to being a female as well as lonely and afraid considering her status as a poor white piece of trash. She manipulates people by using her social class, gender, and race to her advantage. In particular, her accusations made against Tom Robinson, an African American man. These factors lead to her gaining power with the trial and conviction of Tom Robinson. Race refers to the categorization of people based on physical differences.(“Is Mayella Powerful?” 7) Mayella Ewell had perquisites due to her race, which helped her during the conviction.
“... Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s garden’s. They don’t nest in the corncubs. They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (pg.103)Mayella is innocent because she grew up in an abusive household. The book gives hints that her father Bob Ewell sexually assaults her and leaves her to take care of her so called “brothers and sisters.” Mayella Ewell was put on stand and was made to lie to the judge and jury by her father, Bob Ewell, who beats her and abuses
Let us put each other in the shoes of the jury, friends, and family observing in on a discrimination case. Jem and Scout the son and daughter of a lawyer named Atticus Finch get a taste of what the real world is like when, Tom Robinson a poor black man who is married and has kids is falsely accused of raping and assaulting a white woman named Mayella. Mayella Ewell is a young girl considered to be “white trash” who is all by herself to take on the role raising her little siblings while her father Bob Ewell, who is an alcoholic, abuses her. The question arises, is Mayella Ewell Powerful? Mayella Ewell is powerful in this discrimination case because of her race as white woman, her higher class than Tom Robinson, and her gender as a female.
Mayella uses this case to cover up the shame in her life because she is extremely lonely, has no self-esteem, and overwhelmed with the amount of unhappiness in her life. Mayella gets extremely defensive in this quote because she knows that everything Atticus has brought up is good evidence and she can’t hold her own. In the jury, it was full of all white men. Mayella acted timid and helpless and suggested in her comment that the man of the jury be brave and heroic. She becomes someone who is vulnerable, valuable, and needs to be protected.
how is he misunderstood by societyIn literature, a symbol is a representative of several other aspects. Symbolism adds a deeper meaning than an object’s literal, direct interpretation. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, many of the characters introduced are represented by a harmless mockingbird. Mockingbirds are described to bring beauty to the world instead of causing any harm. In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, the author uses the symbolism of a mockingbird to show how certain characters in the novel are damaged by the injustices of the world.
One of the major events in Harper Lee’s award-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson’s trial. It is based on the Scottsboro Case that took place in 1931 in Alabama, in which several black men were accused of raping two white women. Both the Scottsboro Boys and Tom Robinson are unfairly judged, however, because of prejudice against colored people. The racial discrimination makes whites’ testimony more believable even when it contradicts itself. The same happens in To Kill a Mockingbird. As we delve deeper into the case and get increasingly closer to the truth, it is quite suprising to see that Mayella Ewell is the true villain rather than a victim. She shall and must bear full responsibility for her actions because she makes the decision to tempt Tom Robinson, gives false testimony in court that directly leads to Tom’s death, and has been well aware of the consequences of her behaviors.
Many people can dispute whether Mayella Ewell is powerful or not. Some people preserver Mayella as an impotent figure because of her indigent status. While other people believe Mayella is a Strong and influential person because of her white womanhood. Mayella Ewell testifies Tom Robison a Black man of illegibly raping her, he was wrongfully found guilty. Since the book takes place in the 1930s segregation plays a big role in this court case. The white jury discriminates against Tom Robinson, showing no mercy even though the evidence clearly states he is innocent. Does this mean Mayella has authority? Mayella exhibits her sovereignty through her testimony, social code and guilt. Mayella`s selfish decision resulted in a horrifying repercussion for Tom Robinson.
As further evidence is procured, this is proven to be false. The truth is that Mayella’s father beat her for making romantic advances towards Tom. Mayella is unlike the rest of the Ewells in the sense that she likes to keep herself tidy, and lives in a more sophisticated manner than the rest of her family. This makes me infer that she is quite taciturn, and a kind-hearted person who wouldn’t lie about what happened that day if it weren’t for something taking over her conscience. Being threatened by her acrimonious father to lie about what really happened set aside what she knew to be right and pushed her to lie in the trial. Both pressure and fear make people do what they know is not the right thing to do, even though their conscience tells them otherwise. Doing the wrong thing may dispel fears or pressure that is put on for a certain instance. There are many reasons why people do what they know isn’t right even though their conscience tells them not to, but sometimes this can help them construct their values, and improve on how susceptible they are to their
“People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don't think that's true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world.” This quotation by Kim Culbertson can relate to the character Mayella Ewell in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Despite her obvious wrongdoings, Mayella Ewell is, in fact, worthy of compassion. Mayella was abused, physically and sexually, by her alcoholic father, despised by the other members of Maycomb, and was extremely lonely.
People of the court, we’re here today on behalf of our defendant, Mary Maloney. Our defendant is not guilty of first degree murder, which she has been charged with. After hearing Mary’s testimony it is obvious that Mary reacted under the influence of pregnancy hormones, past insanity, and extreme stressful anxiety.
Mayella Ewell is a character in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She lives in the town of Maycomb, Alabama where the inhabitants are very sexist and judgemental. In the book Mayella is not powerful considering her class, race, and gender. The community members she lives near are a very large contributing factor to her powerlessness. Mayella is mistreated a great amount throughout her lifetime. After all that physical and mental abuse she faces becomes enough Mayella does something drastic. She accuses an African American man of rape knowing, her being a white woman, he would get in tremendous trouble. People cannot say whether it was right or wrong of her to do what she did. What they can say is that at the moment she was powerless to do otherwise.
The third example of the trial that strongly contrasts with the outcome of the verdict was Mayella's testimony. If Mayella was so sure that Tom Robinson was the one that assaulted her, her testimony would have been clearly stated. Instead, during the trial, Mayella seemed to be unsure of herself at times and hesitated when thinking about certain answers. When Atticus asked Mayella if she remembered the person beating her face, she first answers that she does not recollect if the person hit her. Under her next breath, she says the man did in fact hit her. Once Atticus challenges this statement she gets flustered and continues to use the excuse that she does not remember.
Good afternoon, my name is Bailey Przybilla, and it is my pleasure to represent Maycomb County and to serve as a prosecutor in this important case. Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about a woman who lied under oath to cover up for her actions. November 21, 1934, Mayella Ewell took an oath in court to not lie and broke that oath during the trial, which is perjury. She lies about Tom Robinson, a black man, attacking her to cover up for her coming on him. Mayella Ewell committed this perjury because her father caught her kissing a black man and she was also ashamed of herself for it.