Mayella's Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

Colored folks won’t have ‘em because they’re half white, white folks won’t have ‘em ‘cause they’re colored, so they’re just in-betweens, don’t belong anywhere.” (Lee 161). From this quote, readers can better understand how people, even kids, were judged based on their skin colour, and how Dolphus and his family were outcasts in town. People are being adjudicated simply because of rude comments said about them, even though that person hasn’t done any harm to them. There was a case in town involving a black man, a white man, and a woman.The white people were treated with respect, but as soon as it was the Negro’s turn (Tom Robinson), he was being questioned rashly. This makes Dill very angry.

The climax of this story is a rape trial that involves a Negro, Tom Robinson, and a white woman, Mayella Ewell. In the court’s eyes’ her power is clear, but is she that powerful? Because of her vulnerability as a woman and a very low-class status, she’s powerless, but her privilege as a white person in a racist society is very powerful. Mayella is powerless because of her gender. In the trial, it’s revealed that Mayella is physically, verbally, and sexually abused by her father.

“He also is willing to stand up against the odds-he knows he’s ‘licked’ before he even begins” (Text 2). Atticus knows he will not be able to win this case even if Tom Robinson is innocent. Unfortunately the town and the jury are corrupt and will not give Tom a fair trial. Almost anyone can see that Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson to show compassion through the “Golden Rule” and set an example for his children. Atticus is an idealist and knows what is right and what is wrong.

During the trial, Tom Robinson tells Atticus that he ran out of the Ewells’ house when he saw Mr. Bob Ewell. Atticus asks him why he ran and Tom replies, “Mr. Finch, if you was a n***** like me, you’d be scared, too” (195). Tom knows that he will be unjustly accused of committing the sexual assault due to his race. This is because Mayella’s word will be taken over his because the people of Maycomb would believe a white woman’s sworn testimony over that of a black man, even if it was not credible.

There is no proof of any crime, so there should not have been a guilty verdict. The Ewells could have been lying because most likely Mayella tempted Tom. Back then if you were involved with a colored person you were disgraced by the whole town. Mayella could have been trying to cover this up and get Tom arrested so he wouldn't be able to tell anyone. The jury convicted Tom Robinson because he was colored and back then white people believed they had to stick together against the colored people.

Although they are white, their poverty and bad reputation made their social status just a step above the black people. Bob Ewell is alcoholic and abusive, but he still wants to improve his family’s situation as a father. However, the fact that "he was the only man ever heard of who was fired from the WPA for laziness" (Lee 78) proves that he isn 't willing to earn it. But in accusing Tom Robinson, he finds what he believes is a brass ring. From his perspective, the town should think him as a hero for saving Maycomb 's white women from a ‘dangerous’ black man.

Tom Robinson is portrayed by a Mockingbird because Mockingbirds do not harm others, they only sing for us. Tom is wrongly accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell, when in actuality he is a helpful, hardworking, and honest man who was helping Mayella with her chores around the house. Tom Robinson does not hurt Mayella Ewell in any way but he does dare to feel sorry for her because of her loneliness and financial state which is why he was willing to help her around the house. Tom Robinson’s pity on Mayella Ewell is seen as unfathomable and is not accepted by the court. As shown on page 197, ”’Mr.

Reverend Sykes is witnessing the trial of Tom Robinson. Jem believes that Tom will win, but the Reverend is convinced that he will lose. The difference in opinion has to do with societal beliefs. In Maycomb county, people of color are perceived as wayward,or insubordinate, in the eyes of the white half of the town. This accounts for the fact that a black man has never won against a white man.

When Tom Robinson was accused of raping Mayella Ewell everyone in Maycomb was for the side of Bob Ewell and Mayella, The white people always put their word before a black man's word. This means that Tom Robinson had no chance, but Atticus believes Tom’s word and believes in equality between white and black people. When

Atticus attempts to persuade the community to not defer to prejudice and intolerant ways by pointing out Bob Ewell’s flaws and racism. Although he knows that most of the individuals in Maycomb will believe that Negroes are the reason why everything is wrong, he wants the community to know that “‘... the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men’” (Lee

In the town of Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930’s, a young woman by the name of Mayella Ewell sets the town in commotion by accusing an African American man with rape. Mayella will be powerful like a hurricane when she is in court in front of the judge, the jury, and the community. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee will show Mayella’s power by using class, race, and gender. Mayella’s class is not efficient, but she can still be powerful. In Document A it said “The Ewells live behind the town’s dump, in what used to be an old Negro cabin...It’s windows were merely open spaces in the walls...What passed for a fence was bits of tree-limbs, broomsticks, and tool shafts...Enclosed by this barricade was a dirty yard…” The quote describes

If Atticus let the mob take away Tom to hang him, Tom wouldn’t have a trial. That wouldn’t be fair for Tom because he couldn’t prove himself innocent. Atticus stood up for fair treatment by protecting Tom from the lynch mob. Another example of Atticus taking a stand for equality is on page 261 and is when Atticus is questioning Tom. Atticus was standing up for equality because he was treating Tom with respect while others were not.

She could not do this alone though she had Jem read to her every day just to distract her mind from thinking of morphine. This next quote from “If’ says “ If you can trust yourself when all men doubt yourself.” Atticus trust himself to get Tom a fair trial even if he is black, he knew it was going to be hard but he has to do it for himself. Like the quote said though everyone else has no hope that Tom was going to win the trial, but since he trust in Atticus to do the best of his ability to win the trial for him Do you see how it feels like “If” and To Kill A Mockingbird were written by the same person it is crazy how close they are. I am completely certain that she used this poem to develop her characters, who know how many things she used to develop her

It is clear that Aunt Alexandra’s opinion of the Cunningham’s is dissatisfactory as opposed to her expectations of her family name. When Scout challenges her in a questioning manor, she simply states “‘Because—he—is—trash,” implying the Finch’s are out of the Cunningham’s league. THIRD POINT: White men having ownership over black men is history in the United States which many still continue to feel an obligation to uphold. According to Atticus, race makes white people act foolish. Throughout the book, Atticus’ voice acts as a beacon of hope, giving aspiration to his children; however, in this instance Atticus dryly says “...when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.