Analysis Of Mayella Ewell In To Kill A Mockingbird

Do you know what it feels like to be powerless? A white nineteen year old woman named Mayella Ewell Falsely accuses a black man of raping her in Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930’s, and is rendered powerless, due to being recessive in her social class, race, and gender. She does so in hopes of escaping her abusive father, and a chance to have a better life. Although Mayella is white, she has been shunned by African Americans and other white people. Mayella is a very young woman that does not own anything nice, nor clean, besides geranium flowers. During the 1930’s, men were the dominant sex, as a female, Mayella has to obey her father, Bob Ewell. As a result, Mayella was mistreated and abused. Mayella Ewell is a social outcast without a niche. Corresponding to her drowning financial state and unclean physical appearance, she is not wanted by other white people. Scout, the narrator in the story and a girl who witnesses events throughout To Kill A Mockingbird, reveals this conclusion, by saying “white people wouldn’t have anything to do with her because she lived among pigs.” (Lee, Chapter 19) Telling the audience that Mayella did not have an advantage of being white at the time. During Mayella’s time with her father, Tom Robinson, the accused rapist, said Mayella had kissed him, and upon doing so, Bob Ewell says “you goddamn whore, I’ll kill ya.” (Lee, Chapter 19) Showing any sexual interaction or contact with black people was highly frowned upon and that Bob Ewell is