During Mayella's testimony Mayella changes her opinion on her answers many times. At the beginning the only thing that is inconsistant is that she says she is "Nineteen and a half" when answering the judge but when Atticus speaks to her, she answers "Nineteen,"Harper Lee choose for her to be less exact to Atticus, which allows the reader to see that she is less open and willing to share her thoughts on the incident. Mayella was more open to the judge and appreciated him more then she did Atticus. More toward the middle of the testimony there was dialoge that got more evident as questions were asked; "Tom Robinson was behind you in the room when you turned around, that right?' 'Yes' 'You said he got you around the neck cussing and saying dirt - is that right?' 't's right.' ... 'choked you, he hit you, he raped you, that right?' 'it most certainly is' ... 'why didn't you run?' ... 'He slung me down' (Harper Lee)." Mayella continued to add content to her responses as the testimony went on until she finally stopped when Atticus started questioning her rapidly.
Because of Mayella's poor background and lack of education, she was probably, never truly taught how to comunicate well and answer questions fully. This limits her in the world and has a big impression on how people treat her. By seeing and hearing Mayella, Scout learns the importance of telling the truth and being educated. Mayella and the trial were put into the story to help teach Scout that life is not always fair and no matter how hard you try it is okay to lose but you need to be able to stand up for yourself and what you believe. Even Mayella helps teach Scout a lesson in maturity. She shows Scout how to stand up for what she wants, even if Scout may not believe in the same thing.
Is it important that Mayella is a Ewell? Would the story be different if she was from a family of higher class? Are Mayella and Scout similar in any way?
In response to your post, I think that there are other reasons behind why Mayella confronted Atticus and the judge the way she did. Because Mayella stutters a couple of times and she changes her thoughts throughout the prosecution, we as readers are lead to think that she is lying. Later in the courtroom scene, Tom Robinson shares his testimony and we all know that Mayella is lying. There must be something hiding within her mind that is causing her to lie to the jury. From Tom’s testimony, information is shared, suggesting that Mayella threw herself at Tom as apposed to the other way around. Maybe there is a part of her that is slightly attracted to Tom, a strong, black man. Shown by the town’s hatred towards Atticus when he decided to stick up for Tom Robinson, Mayella would most likely get down graded by many people if she were public about her attraction for this black man. She doesn’t want to be more different from Maycomb than she already is, maintaining the reputation of the Ewells. Although, Mayella having feelings for Tom Robinson has not proved in the case, this has been a thought that I’ve wondered about and questioned multiple times.
ReplyDeleteWhat if she actually did like Tom? How are Atticus and Mayella similar in this situation? What would be Mayella’s dad’s reaction, if the jury closed the case with Mayella being the one who threw herself at Tom?
I think Mayella and Scout are similar in that they both listen and obey their fathers, no matter the consequences. Although this is one of their similarities, it is also one of their differences, because while Scout looks up to her father, and knows that when she does what he says she is doing the right thing, Mayella cannot completely trust her father. Mayella obeys her father, but with contempt, knowing that the only reason she is doing it is that if she didn't she most likely would be beaten, insulted, and possibly raped again. Mayella knows that when she listens to her father, she is doing the wrong thing. Although their fathers are exact opposites, Mayella and Scout both are struggling to be free in their own way. Mayella is a victim of terrible oppression, and Scout is fighting against Jem, her aunt, and everyone who insults Atticus. Scout obviously is much luckier than Mayella, in that she has a nice house, and a wonderful father who teaches her and would never harm her. She also has Calpurnia, Dill, and Jem. Mayella, on the other hand, has the opposite. She lives next to the dump, she has no friends and no supporters, her father is mean and sexually abusive (where do you think all those Ewell kids came from? The mother's dead!), and she has to take care of the children and do all the housework. She lives in filth, with only her six geraniums to cheer her up. Scout has a future, where she can be free, but Mayella will always be a slave to her family.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Mayella living in a low class affects the way the readers see her. She is pitiable and her lifestyle and the way she gets treated makes you see her as an innocent victim. In a sense, Harper Lee portrays her as a “mocking bird.” She is hurt by her surroundings; one of poverty, hatred, misunderstanding, and loneliness. Her father abuses her and her siblings don’t care; and the lack of respect she receives reflects on her reaction when Atticus calls her Miss Mayella. Rather than seeing it as a way to be respectful, she saw it as Atticus mocking her. Evidently, she tried to destroy Tom Robinson to disguise the shame. The shame of having a broken life, the shame of her father molesting and beating her up, the shame of being the “loneliest person in the world.”(P.178) Her situation makes Scout and even Tom Robinson feel sorry for her.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the importance of Mayella seeing Atticus as “mocking” her? Who do you pity more- Tom Robinson or Mayella? Why?