Significance Of Mayella Ewell's Trial In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Tom Robinson was accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. The people involved in the trial are Bob and Mayella Ewell, Tom Robinson, and Atticus Finch, who is defending Tom. In the trial, Bob Ewell tries to get revenge on Atticus and his family. Bob is called to testify, this reveals Bob’s true character. We learn that Bob Ewell drinks, he leaves his family for numerous days at a time, he also can get violent, and he may even be the perpetrator of raping Mayella. Atticus finds a way to show that Bob is left-handed and considering Mayella’s marks and bruises, she was probably beaten up by someone who is dominantly left handed. Therefore Bob lies during the trial and is willing to sacrifice someone else life just to maintain his daughter's reputation and the little respect she is given.

Out of the members of the family she is looked at as the most responsible. She takes care of her brothers and sisters as well as herself. Her family is one of the poorest in Maycomb. Her family and lifestyle is looked at as a disgrace, white people don't want anything to do with her. At that time, it was impossible for her to be social and friendly with black people. Scout calls her "the loneliest person in the world". Everyday Tom Robinson passed her house on his way to work and, according to Scout, he was probably the only person who was ever nice to her. Tom's evidence at the trial shows that she was planning to make a pass at Tom for quite some time. It took Mayella nearly a year to save up enough money to send all of her brothers and sisters into town to get ice cream. She was caught trying to kiss him, when her father walked in. In the 1930s it was unlawful for a white women to have any relations with a black man. If everyone found out she kissed Tom she would be shunned. Mayella would do anything to make sure that didn't happen, even if it meant Tom would be