Compassion for mistakes Nearly everyone is worthy of compassion and sympathy, even if they make mistakes or have mal-intent . In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell accuses Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping her. It is evident that she is lying to all of the faces in the court by her mannerisms and wordings. Due to Tom’s testimony we learn what actually happened, Mayella would often ask Tom to help her with something, but the last time she decided to make a move. Mayella pushed herself at Robinson but he did not reciprocate, so he ran off as far and fast as possible. Hearing this it is simple to mark Mayella as a horrible person worthy of nothing, but she truly is a sympathetic character. Mayella Ewell deserves compassion regardless …show more content…
While Mayella was being interviewed she thought Atticus was mocking her. A realization occurred and that realization was, “I wondered if anybody had ever called her “ma’am,” or “Miss Mayella” in her life; probably not, as she took offense to routine courtesy. What on earth was her life like?” (Lee 184). Mayella Seems to have never received proper respect in her life, She is offended by simple civility because she thinks she is being mocked. Mayella’s life is not filled with joy; she takes care of her family’s home, is never helped out by her siblings, and is abused by her father. Mayella has a lot to deal with thanks to her father and siblings, “others are choosing to acknowledge suffering (their own and others’) and wish to see the relief of suffering. This notion can get lost at times when doing these practices in solitude” (Jazaieri). Mayella does not have the atmosphere or ability to acknowledge her suffering; neither alone or with others. She does not have the ability to process or talk through her feelings, Mayella can not recognize that she is suffering as much as she is. The only way Mayella can process her feelings is to spin a web of lies to which unfortunately involves the prosecution of Tom Robinson. Her actions are unhealthy and inexcusable but they are the only way She can keep her suffering at
While the accused Tom Robinson gave his testimony, he included a small detail that slightly entailed what Mayella’s father does to her. Tom attested, “She says
The firm declaration of Mayella denying that her father abuses her after claiming he can be intolerable while drunk and her hesitant answer gives us the clear conclusion that Mayella is being abused by her father and her injuries and rape were done not by Tom Robinson but by Mr. Ewell
Being a girl in this situation, gave Mayella the power over Tom. While Questioning Mayella, Atticus asked her a question that changed the way people saw her, “Do you love your father, Miss Mayella,”... “He does tollable, ‘cept when—,”...“Except when he’s drinking?” asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded. “ All her life Mayella has been mistreated her father.
In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell does not deserve pity from the readers, despite her home life because she constantly victimizes herself, shows no remorse for Tom Robinson, and will bring innocent people down to help herself. Mayella’s character starts to reveal itself during the trial. During the cross examination, Atticus Finch had asked her questions that will help the jury get a better understanding of what truly took place. She shows little to no confidence while answering the questions, and she is given multiple opportunities to tell the truth. In some cases, she simply did not answer the question at all.
He sat up straight and waited for her to answer” (Lee 208). Mayella does not know any better as she grew up only knowing the world threw her father’s eyes. Plus, her father most likely encouraged her to lie in order to protect himself from the consequences of abusing his kids. Allowing for others to feel empathy for Mayella because her father never
By referring to Mayella as ‘she,’ Atticus disregards her poverty-stricken life and lack of education, insisting that being white is enough. Enough to make up such lies about an innocent and independent black man, knowing that her affection and feelings towards Tom will be sheltered by the cloak of her white skin. By applying language such as ‘she,’ Atticus refuses to give her the respect of being referred to by her name. Furthermore, in comparison to Mayella, Tom Robinson is no monster, but “... a human being.” Atticus comments that “She must put Tom Robinson away from her.
Mayella is worthy of compassion because she has no respect at her house from her dad Robert Ewell, additionally she is left alone to take care of her siblings and has no friends. , “it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world. She was even lonelier than Boo Radley.”(Lee 218) Scout is showing that she has compassion for Mayella.
Mayella never learned to sympathize for her and her own home life, which is sorrowful because “I [the author] find it also helps renew one’s optimism as it reminds us we are not alone in these practices [compassion practices]. Many others are choosing to acknowledge suffering (their own and others’) and wish to see the relief of suffering” (Jazaieri). Mayella has had little experience with compassion and love in her life, and her not having those experiences makes her not
“ma’am” or “Miss Mayella” in her life…she took offense to routine courtesy. What on earth was her life like?” (Lee 207). Scout sees how Atticus’s treatment of Mayella shows her way of living. She begins to understand why
If she does not lie, her father will punish her even more, and this anxiety is what compels her to lie. Given that Mayella grew up in a low-income family, she has always been frowned upon; Nevertheless, the community members do not understand that her father has repeatedly exploited and abused her. In light of this, she has grown to fear him, and when she and Tom find themselves in a life-threatening situation, Mayella chooses to try and protect herself by having to put Tom in mortal danger. She lies about the accused Tom because of the constant shadow that looms over her and her future. She said Tom raped and abused her to protect herself.
Tom was convicted of raping, Mayella said this to excuse him "I got something to say an' then I ain't gonna say it no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me and' if you fine fancy gentlemen don't want a do nothing' about it then you're all yellow stinking' cowards, stinking' cowards, the lot of you." (pg. 251 TKAM) Tom was getting accused of raping Mayella when we all know his didn’t. Lots of the times I get the blame for things that I did not do and I still get in trouble for it.
She is stunned by a society who thinks that she lives “among pigs”[Doc A], after the trail she and her father are told to “get back to your dump” [Doc A]. Mayella also shows stupidity when she gets called ma’am or miss by
If Atticus had approached Mayella with an attitude of hatred, she would continue to be impudent and act like she doesn’t care. “Atticus’s voice had lost its comfortableness; he was speaking in his arid, detached professional voice. ’Do you remember him beating you about the face?’’ (Atticus 247).
Mayella was not favored by the people in Maycomb. She was extremely poor and never spoke on any harassment she suffered from her father. Tom Robinson attempts to get the truth out in the open when he is giving his testimony, “She said what her papa do to her don’t count” (Doc B). Mayella doesn’t fully understand that her father is physically abusive towards her. To her it’s just love.
But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet.” Mayella’s loneliness and powerlessness drove her to have an affair with a black man, breaking a societal code. She is a victim of poverty because of the hatred and discrimination occurring in Maycomb. Although some might view Mayella Ewell as a victim, others might view her as a villain because she broke a societal code by attempting to have an affair with a Negro.