Hello, My name is Brooke Marshik, and it's my pleasure to represent the state of Maycomb and serve as a prosecutor in this particular case. On August 26, 1936, Mayella Ewell was accused of lying under oath. At the conclusion of this case, and after you have heard all the evidence, I am confident you will return the verdict guilty of lying under oath. Members of the jury said this is a case about a 19-year-old woman whose fear got the best of her. Mayella Ewell lied under oath out of fear of her father, Bob Ewell. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution will call 4 witnesses to the stand. We will call Bob Ewell, Mayella's father, to explain how he was at the case but had nothing to do with Mayella's lying and maybe even try to convince them that she didn't lie in the …show more content…
He will testify by saying that while he was questioned by Mayella, facts and verbal indications were proving that she was lying. We will call Tom Robinson, who will testify about what happened on November 21, 1935. He will explain the interaction between him and Mayella and also prove she is lying by listening to the facts of the original case. Finally, we will call Mayella Ewell, who will testify by saying she never lied. On August 26th, 1936, Mayella Ewell lay under oath. On this date, she was at a different trial explaining her interactions with Tom Robinson. She lied under oath out of fear while explaining the case. The evidence, in this case, will show Mayella Ewell lied under oath because she was afraid of her father. During the testimony on August 26, 1936, Atticus asks, “Who beat you up? Tom Robinson or your father? No answer (Lee 213). Mayella has no answer to multiple of Atticus's questions; this shows that she's guilty because not responding is a clear sign of deception. When he is riled, has he ever beaten you? Mayella looked around, down at the court reporter, up at the judge (Lee
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.”
In every situation Atticus would be truthful, no matter what or who it hurts. In the courthouse, both Mayella and Tom Robinson sworn to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. It was clear that Mayella was lying about what happened the day of the alleged assault, but Atticus made sure that Tom told the truth about everything that happened because he knew in the end, the truth always prevails. A tremendous example of Atticus’s honesty was the night his children were attacked by Bob Ewell.
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.
Mayella’s emotions gave away that she was lying during the trial. When Mayella was called to the stage, she said to Atticus "I got somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin' cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don't come to nothin'—your ma'amin' and Miss Mayellerin' don't come to nothin', Mr. Finch-". If Mayella Ewell was really innocent, she wouldn’t have been as dramatic as she was while pleading her case. Mayella most likely would have told the truth with no wavering emotions. When Mayella was called to the stand she did this, “‘Him,’ she said, pointing at Atticus.” Mayella was afraid of Atticus during the trial because of the way he got her father, Bob Ewell, to give vital information to Tom’s benefit. She would not have been afraid of Atticus if she hadn’t known he could get the truth out of her, too. If Mayella had remained calm during the trial, she might have seemed a lot less guilty.
Mayella's siblings, and her usually watch as he completes her tasks. On the day of the proposed attack,Tom is now asked to fix the door. He examines the door and finds nothing wrong with it. Heck Tate is the first witness and he tells that the doctor never came to examine Mayella. It is also discovered that Tom's left arm is useless and it would've been really hard to commit a crime without a left arm. Throughout the trial, everyone attacks Tom, disregarding all the evidence that does not add up, Tom is till convicted and charged with rape. While Tom is in the stand, he says that he is not the one to come on to Mayella, instead she came on to him. Tom is automatically at fault simply because he is black. Atticus tells the court to decide simply by fate, and to think further that all blacks are criminals. Lee is merely suggesting that our justice system is against people of
Atticus had enough evidence to prove to the Jury that Tom’s right arm did not work and that would mean that Tom could not have pulled Mayella to the ground and bruised her as the policeman described. The crowd was surprised but the Jury and the Judge did not believe Atticus’s evidence. They were prejudiced and if Atticus came up with the best possible explanation the Judge still believed the Ewell family and they did not come up with a reasonable explanation about Tom. “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash” (Atticus) chapter 23. Prejudice hurts people who are black and people who were different and young
Tom Robinson had been accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the eldest child of the worst white trash family in Maycomb. In all actuality, Mayella had flirted with Tom and got caught by her father. Her father, Bob Ewell, had beat Mayella with his left hand, which proved Tom not guilty since he could not move his left arm. Atticus explains the motives in his final speech of the trial. “‘I say guilt, gentlemen, because it was guilt that motivated her. She committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She is a victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white… She was white and tempted a negro. She did something that in our society is unthinkable: she kissed a black man… There is circumstantial evidence that to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left… Tom Robinson now sits before you… with the only good hand he possesses- his right hand.’” (272) Most people in this day and age would be easily swayed into Tom’s defense with the evidence provided by Atticus, but this is the 1930’s in the deep south of the United States, and a black man could never be innocent in a case as such. “Judge Taylor was polling the jury: ‘Guilty… guilty… guilty… guilty...’” (282)
A second testimony that supports the opposite of the verdict, was the fact that Mr. Ewell never called a doctor after learning of Mayella's injuries. Following the incident, there had not been any physical examination performed by a certified physician. If indeed Mr. Robinson had committed the crime, Mr. Ewell's first instinct would have been to get his daughter checked out. Upon finding his daughter 'assaulted';, he would have wanted to have her injuries treated including the injury that might been caused by rape.
Mayella Ewell is white and therefore her claims against a black man are automatically believed. The vast majority of the people in the town feel that the incident occurred and harass Atticus for his legal support of Tom. “Francis looked at me carefully, concluded that I had been sufficiently subdued, and crooned softly, “Nigger-lover . . .”(Lee 84). This statement came from Francis Hancock when he first realized Atticus was Tom’s lawyer. Atticus would not have to go through all of this harassment if he refused to accept this role, but he wanted to help Tom Robinson. This is a clear case of discriminatory language, as Francis was showing his hatred for African Americans by using such a derogatory term. Atticus can control his emotions very well in response to these scenarios, unlike Scout. The things people are saying do not affect him one bit. “According to Miss Stephanie Crawford, however, Atticus was leaving the post office when Mr. Ewell approached him, cursed him, spat on him, and threatened to kill him” (Lee 217). Bob Ewell is Mayella Ewell’s father and he wanted to see Tom Robinson convicted. Atticus was able to walk away from this provocation without reacting in a negative manner. He was strong enough to ignore this negativity. During the trial, the jury and the judge also displayed a prejudicial belief system. The unfair attitudes and ideas of the townspeople towards were
verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father. Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, "Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?" (172) His crude reply is, "Well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now"(172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson.
Opening Statement for Mayella Ewell Good afternoon, my name is Chloe Walcheski, and I am here to represent Maycomb County as a prosecutor in this case. Mayella Ewell showed lots of dishonesty under oath during her case of accusing Tom Robinson of taking advantage of her. During the trial, Mayella Ewell was called up to the witness stand and proceeded to tell the jury how Tom Robinson allegedly raped her the night of November 21st. Mayella s replies to many of the questions asked seemed very thought through, almost like she was being dishonest and didn't want to slip up on her words.
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.
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.
Good afternoon, my name is Abigail Virnig, and it is my pleasure to represent Maycomb County and serve as a prosecutor on this important day. The defendant in this matter, Mayella Ewell, lied under oath when fear got the best of her. The lying under oath occurred because she was afraid of Bob Ewell. Mayella said that Tom Robinson raped her. She said Tom choked her and took advantage of her.
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.