To Kill a Mockingbird - Mayella

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Mayella Violet Ewell is a thick bodied, fragile looking, uncivilized girl. She is nineteen years of age, and the eldest of the eight children of Bob Ewell. She is a victim of poverty and hardship, but also an immoral person, when she does not have second thoughts when grabbing Tom Ewell. The fact that she was sensitive to the routine courtesy of Atticus illustrated the kind of life she had. In the court case she appears to be uncertain of her testimony, constantly stuttering and repeating herself. She tries to cover her guilt by accusing Atticus of 'making fun of me (her)'(p200). Scout curiously studies Mayella; she does not think much about her. Scout figures out that Mayella's life is much different from her own. She carefully studies Mayella, and questions Jem if Mayella had any sense. "Has she got good sense?" (p198). Scout later learns that Mayella is a victim of poverty and that "with two members of the family reading and writing, there was no need for the rest of them to learn - Papa needed them at home" (p202). We also learn from Scout's observations that Mayella has no social life, instead she spends her time helping her father around the house. This is evident when Atticus questions her on the issue of her friends, she "frowns (at this question) as if puzzled" (p202). In the court case Mayella seems uncertain about her story, constantly sobbing and repeating denials in a guilty manner. At the start Mayella is clearly troubled by something, she is angry with Atticus and does not cooperate fully to his defense. Several times when referring to Tom, she is unspecific and does not say his full name. Her testimony is not credible, she accuses Tom of beating, choking and raping her. However Mr. Gilmer points out that her wounds were on the right, implying that whoever beat her had to be a left handed. Tom Robinson tries to help her on several requests; but

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