Examples Of Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

Power? Power is the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality. Many people have power like the President, parents, the law, but not as much power as of what happens in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” This story is about a great trial involving a man named Tom Robinson and a lady name Mayella. The story is based on a trial because the man Tom Robinson was accused of rape and the beating of Mayella. Mayella is going to be powerful and powerless. Is it possible Mayella is powerful in her class, gender, and race? Although Mayella is powerless when it comes to class and gender. Her race ultimately makes her powerful. Earlier in the book, Mayella is not an ordinary girl. She is a poor, lonely girl who doesn’t take sass too well. “One corner of the yard… bewildered… against the fence,

Mayella was exacerbate when Atticus kept on calling her “Ma’am and miss.” (Doc:C) Judge Taylor told Mayella that Atticus was not making fun of her because he was being polite and of what she’s been through so Mayella got away with being rude to Atticus. “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr. Jem, ain’t ever seen any jury decide in a favor of a colored man over a white man…’” (Doc:D) The jury decided in favor of a colored man over a white man due to all the evidence that was found and leading to Mr. Ewell. “Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her.” (Doc:E) Tom helped Mayella with chores and not for one penny because he felt sorry for her and for her being white and left him vapid. In this time period race overpowered everything. Although Mayella is powerless when it comes to class and gender. Her race ultimately makes her powerful. Mayella from now on is going to have a strict life because Tom won the trial and leaving Mayella still poor, no family, and embarrassed because they chose a black man instead of a white