Opening Statement for Mayella Ewell Good morning, my name is Mataya Pohlkamp and it is my delight to represent the county of Maycomb Alabama, and to serve on this important case. On August 26, 1936, the defendant Mayella Ewell was accused of dishonesty. Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about a woman who was dishonest. On this day, Mayella was on trial, explaining her interactions with Tom Robinson. She was then dishonest and lied under oath. This crime occurred because she was scared of what her father might do to her if she was found guilty. After hearing the case and all the evidence, we are confident that you will return a verdict of guilt on Mayella Ewell for being dishonest. Members of the jury, the court will review the evidence against Mayella …show more content…
Atticus asked. “‘I did not. I certainly did not’” (Lee 209). Mayella responded with a sigh of relief. “‘You never asked him to do odd jobs before’” (Lee 2009). Atticus asked. “‘I mighta’” (Lee 2009). Mayella replied. Mayella had different responses both times she was asked the same question. Mayella was asked if she remembered getting hit in the face by Tom Robinson and she doesn’t remember but then later says, “‘Huh? Yes he hit- I just don’t remember, I just don’t remember. it all happened so quick’” (Lee 210). Then Atticus asks, “‘Is this the man who raped you’” (Lee 211)? “‘It most certainly is’” (Lee 211). Mayella claims to be a snob. How to “‘How’” (Lee 211)? asks Atticus. Mayella says, “‘I don’t know how he did it, but he did it- I said it all happened so fast-’” (Lee 211). “‘He blacked your left eye with his right fist’” (Lee 212)? Atticus asked. Mayella said, “‘I ducked it- it glanced off, thats what it did. I ducked and it glanced off’” (Lee 212). Mayella had to reassure herself about what she was saying but didn’t think it through that it would be hard for a man with only a right arm to swing and hit her in the left eye. “‘Who beat you
Harper Lee, before the reader meets Mayella in person, uses her family and home environment to portray her as an impoverished but aspirational woman, revealing some of her more redeeming qualities before the trial has begun. She then goes on to demonstrate some of Mayella’s negative characteristics during the trial, when Lee portrays her as cowardly, emotionally unstable and racist at times. By the end of the trial, the reader is left to make their verdict on Mayella Ewell; should she be blamed for what she did or is she simply a victim of circumstance?
With this being said, even though Mayella was a low class female she inherited the superiority of being white making it easy for her during the trial. Mayella used her individualistic self pity against Tom Robinson. The little town of Maycomb Alabama knew the truth, but the Ewell’s plan backfired on them. They gained no respect, and are still considered white pieces of trash. As for Mayella individually, she’s not educated but she is very smart. Mayella did have power through race, class, and
“... 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
In the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”, Mayella Ewell is the conflict of the story. To challenge herself to see if she is powerful based on class, gender, and race. Mayella is powerful due to her race; however, she would not be powerful due to her class and gender. One might think she is powerful over all; however, she does not have power in the eyes of some readers. Proceeding on to see if Mayella has power in race.
Mayella (white), goes to court against Tom Robinson (African American), where Mayella is accusing Tom Robinson of rape. When Atticus asks Mayella questions, Atticus mishears Mayella. An example of Mayella’s lack of power is when Atticus closes his argument by describing Mayella’s injuries during the court case. “Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left.”
Atticus questions Mayella very differently compared to the way he questions Bob Ewell. Through Atticus? language we learn that he does sympathise with Mayella and he does realise she is a victim of her father?
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.
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
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.
Although Mayella Ewell eventually testifies against Tom Robinson on false grounds, her backstory and true nature is innocent, and her “mockingbird” only dies when her father corrupts her. First, when Scout is describing the Ewell’s living condition, the novel states, “Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson… People said they were Mayella Ewell’s” (Lee 228). Being raised in the conditions that she was, Mayella’s attempts at rectifying her family’s image, even in these small, personal acts, captures the way she wishes to live and how she thinks. Caring for the geraniums and trying to maintain some semblance of cleanliness, especially when compared to the rest of her family, gives the reader
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 ladies and gentlemen! I am Adyson Winscher and it’s my pleasure to represent Maycomb County and to serve as a prosecutor in this case. On November 21, 1934, the defendant, Mayella Ewell, lied under oath. The defendant claims that when she went into her homestead to retrieve a nickel to pay Tom Robinson for helping with a chore, he took advantage of her.
Mayella Ewell was left with injuries to the head and neck and more on the right side of her body, including bruises and a black eye. Being a public trial, the courthouse quickly filled with people from all over town waiting to see what Atticus Finch could do for the defence of Tom Robinson. The case began and Heck Tate was the first witness called to the stand. Mr. Tate claimed that Mr. Ewell came up running to him the day of the crime telling him of the events that Mr. Ewell saw take place and they together went back to the crime scene.