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Jem observes that she has just enough sense to get the judge sorry for her.. He treats everyone on the stand with the same respect, no matter who they are or where they come from. The citizens of Maycomb react to Toms death in many different ways. Mayella asked Tom to come inside her house; she told him she needed help getting a box down from a tall dresser. There was "something stealthy" about [it] it was like "a steady-eyed cat with a twitchy tail.". What does the rabid dog Atticus shoots symbolize? Atticus is establishing for the jury what life is like at the Ewell home; they are extremely poor, Mayella has no friends, the father is an alcoholic. Examples Of Mayella Ewell's Power In To Kill A Mockingbird. Ace your assignments with our guide to To Kill a Mockingbird! Chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee contains the testimony of Mayella Ewell. What qualities make Atticus a good father? Additionally, accepting that Mayella is human is and important and brave thought process for Scout, as it requires her to be empathetic to her enemy. Atticus then examines her testimony and asks why she didnt put up a better fight, why her screams didnt bring the other children running, and, most important, how Tom Robinson managed the crime: how he bruised the right side of her face with his useless left hand, which was torn apart by a cotton gin when he was a boy. The small sample of his cross-examination that Scout and the reader do hear is enough. Scouts pity is awakened by the combination of Mayellas evident ignorance and hostility, and the revelations about the abuse she is forced to endure at home. Mayella lived in a time when Class, race, and gender were a big controversy. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This episode serves two important purposes in the novel. Despite Atticus showing Bob and Mayella's story to be untrue, Tom's testimony is not received well. Atticus concludes his questions by asking why he ran. What details does Atticus seem to focus on during his cross-examination of the witnesses? By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. 5 chapters | Free trial is available to new customers only. In shooting the dog, then, Atticus is trying to protect the community from its most dangerous elements. Dill tells Scout he doesn't care, that it's not right to treat anyone that way. Tom was unlikely to tell anyone of what had happened with Mayella, recognizing that his safety was at stake. He says there is no other way to get to his job, working for Mr. Link Deas. He asks Mayella if she remembers being beaten in the face, and Mayella first says no, but then yes. Although Scout and Jem are tolerant and more aware of racial injustice than many of the other white residents of Maycomb, they still make some statements during the trial that suggest that they are not completely free of prejudice. His imagination kindles theirs, and his youthful enthusiasm contrasts with Jems budding serious maturity. He explains that on many occasions Mayella has asked him for help with her chores, and he always helps her without asking for payment. Although she is a mean, racist neighbor, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose teaches the children a lesson in courage. Mayella declares that her father has never harmed her. Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell is a loving father, and with hesitation, Mayella says that he is "tolerable" except when he has been drinking. Tom works for Mr. Link Deas most of the year, and knows of no way to get to work except passing the Ewell house. Atticus appears to have found his exchange with the young woman distasteful. In short, Scout and Jem have never encountered a woman like Mayella, and they have a difficult time processing both her tragic situation and her erratic personality on the stand. Find a specific quote to support your answer. Once more testimony is offered, Scout understands that Mayella's life is quite different from her own. Tom has good reason to be scareddue to the likely combination of sexist and racist beliefs in the community, the idea that a white woman would willingly touch a black man in an inappropriate manner is likely unthinkable to many in this courtroom. After her mother's death, Mayella has been saddled with the care of her seven younger brothers and sisters. The judge attempts to explain that Atticus is simply being polite. on 50-99 accounts. The jurys decision to convict Tom Robinson for a crime he clearly did not commit plagues Jem (and many readers) as an intolerable miscarriage of justice. Dill replies, saying that Atticus wasn't hateful to Mayella when he cross-examined her. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Link Deas represents the diametric opposite of prejudice. Download the entire To Kill a Mockingbird study guide as a printable PDF! She thinks Mayella may be as sad as 'what Jem called a mixed child' since white people look down on her, and black people will not go near her because she's white. He values education and justice above all else, and he is open-hearted and open-minded. This is important for two reasons: Tom Robinson's left arm got stuck in a cotton gin when he was young, leaving it useless, and Mayella's father is indeed left-handed. Link Deas, Toms white employer, stands up and declares that in eight years of work, he has never had any trouble from Tom. He comes over and says he understands why Dill is upset. Mayella is a liar who puts an innocent man's life in danger, but her testimony does make her more of a sympathetic character. During this questioning, Tom slips and says he 'felt right sorry for her.' When he moved to leave, she asked him to get a box from on top a large chiffarobe. Atticus Finch then begins to cross-examine the witness. Sometimes it can end up there. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Mayella went to school for a few years but none of her eight siblings go, and their mother is dead. She is hesitant to answer but nods affirmatively when Atticus asks about whether or not the . M.A. Aunt Alexandra also believes that Scout needs to be taught to be a perfect Southern lady who knows how to wear a dress, serve tea, and converse with other women. He says Mayella kissed him, saying she had never kissed a grown man and 'might as well kiss a nigger.' Mayella then closed the door with him inside. Write P if the subject and verb are plural. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. It is said that "what passed for a fence was bits of tree-limbs , broomsticks and tool shafts, all tipped with When Atticus treats her with respect, she is immediately suspicious of his motives. Then, draw an arrow to the word or word group that each adjective phrase or adverb phrase modifies. She herself much resembles Scout, the narrator and main character of the novel. What does Scout find in the knothole of the tree in the novelTo Kill a Mockingbird? Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. What does Atticus mean when he says "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we startedis no reason for us not to try to win"in To Kill a Mockingbird? Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! What does Scout realize about the way her father is questioning Mayella? He is a pillar of the community who is elected to the legislature every term unopposed. Why does Reverend Sykes tell Jem to take Scout home during Bob Ewell's testimony? Nobody in the courtroom likes his answer. In this regard Scout, unlike Dill, has yet to learn to question what society has taught her about the placement of African Americans. The most obvious reason justice isnt served is because the jurys overwhelming racism prevents Tom from getting a fair trial. Wed love to have you back! The phrase "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" refers to intentionally and pointlessly destroying something that does no harm. Example: S{\color{#c34632}S}S This book of poems is one of my favorite possessions. "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." What role does Calpurnia play in the family and in the novel? The lawyer then asks him why he ran if he was innocent. Did she get beaten up by her father, not Tom Robinson? Mayella begins to cry, claiming that she is afraid of Atticus. It's at this point that Dill begins to cry. He explained that he was scared of being arrested for a crime he didn't commit. Jem breaks his arm in the struggle. He says that Tom is 25, married with three kids, and then states he has been in trouble with the law once before. She has no friends, and Scout seems justified in thinking that she must have been the loneliest person in the world. On the other hand, though, Scouts picture of Mayella as a victim is marred by her attempt to become a victimizer, to destroy Tom Robinson in order to cover her shame. It also adds suspicion that . You'll also receive an email with the link. When Mr. Gilmer questions Tom's motives in helping Mayella, Tom maintains he was just trying to help her. Historical Context Essay: The Scottsboro Boys Trials, Literary Context Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird & The Southern Gothic Tradition. If she were hit straight on, it would have come from someone's left hand. Mayella had allegations against Tom Robinson. Atticus asks Mayella to admit that her father is actually the person who hit her, not Tom Robinson. Atticus does this to establish Tom's credibility with the jury. Mayella doesn't seem to have any friends. When Tom climbs up on a chair to reach the box, Mayella knocks him to the ground. Scout also notices that Mayella acts especially nervous on the stand, first twisting a handkerchief into a "sweaty rope" and then trying to get her story straight: Mayella was silent. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Atticus Finch's children, Jem and Scout, and their friend Dill also find seats in the balcony. However, when he tries to raise his right hand, his left falls off the Bible. Toms race, combined with the Ewells lies, proved enough for the racist jury to find Tom guilty, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of Toms innocence. How does Scout get Mr. Cunningham and the mob to leave in To Kill a Mockingbird? Atticus asks whether or not a doctor had been called for the rape victim, and he also asked about the specific location of her injuries. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Mayella's father, Robert E. Lee Ewell, then testifies that he found Tom Robinson raping his daughter. While Bob Ewell is filthy, Mayella seems to try to keep herself clean. Latest answer posted April 15, 2021 at 5:47:22 PM. The grim facts of Mayella Ewell's life emerge in her testimony and in Jem's observations of her. After Atticus's cross-examination, Scout mentions that she feels numb and looks over at Jem and Dill, who are both yawning. Mr. Gilmer reviews Mayellas testimony, accusing Tom of lying about everything. Mr. Gilmer questions why Tom ran, if he had done nothing wrong. Mr. Gilmer asks whether he was scared he would have to face what he had done. After Dill starts crying, Scout takes him outside and asks him if he is feeling sick. In the first sentence of the novel, Scout says that Jem broke his arm. 90 lessons What is the significance of the gifts Boo Radley leaves in the knothole? He has served as a social studies teacher and has created content for Ohio's Historical Society. Tom tells Mr. Gilmer that he was afraid of being accused of something he didn't do. for a group? Study Resources. Second, Atticus Finch has Tom Robinson stand so that everyone can see his left arm. Tom thinks she may not have understood he meant it was nice when he said 'that's right smart o'you to treat 'em.' In Chapter 19, a more literal interpretation of the destruction of innocence is conveyed. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Scout seemed to be the most moved out of the three children by Mayella's story. What does his testimony suggest about the relationship between Mayella and her father? Who interrupts the court proceedings to speak on Tom's defense? After Mayella paints a grim portrait of her life as the sole caretaker of her siblings, courtroom observers feel some sympathy for her situation. Contrast the description of the Ewell's property with the African-American settlement a few hundred yards away. What is about Mayella that makes Scout think of the red geraniums in the front yard? Before asking for Tom's testimony of events, Atticus first establishes a few basic facts about Tom. What does Judge Taylor say about Mr. Ewell's testimony? What qualities make Atticus a good father? Subscribe now. Dill begins to cry, and Scout takes him out of the courtroom. Mayella then asked Tom to step up on a chair to grab a box for her that was on top of a dresser. Although Atticus is an old father according to Scout, he dearly loves his children, Scout and Jem, and offers them a role model of integrity, wisdom, trust, and honesty. The book was published in 1960 and was an instant success. Tom's testimony is clear and concise; there is no fumbling around of facts or struggling with misrememberings. The ones to see for humorous antics are the films with Charlie Chaplin. The prosecutor points out that the defendant was once arrested for disorderly conduct and gets Tom to admit that he has the strength, even with one hand, to choke the breath out of a woman and sling her to the floor. But, as Atticuss awareness of his defeat as a foregone conclusion suggests, Lee was not interested in the believability of the trial. Why does Aunt Alexandra move into the Finch household? He gives his testimony, explaining his side of the story as to what happened on the night of November 21st. A+ Student Essay: Boo Radley's Role in Scout and Jem's Lives and Development, Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird Background. The courtroom gallery is segregated, with Black observers consigned to the balcony. Mayella told Tom that she gave them money to go buy ice cream. Then Atticus asks if she remembers if Tom hit her face, because in her previous answer she just claimed he choked her. The premise of Mayella's testimony is that she was on the porch and asked Tom Robinson to break up a Chiffarobe when he attacked her. When Mayella takes the stand, before she can begin her testimony, she bursts into tears. She holds a Mississippi AA Educator License. Historical Context Essay: The Scottsboro Boys Trials, Literary Context Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird & The Southern Gothic Tradition. He then asks her if she has ever asked Tom for help before, and she gives a non-answer. Atticus asks whether Tom helped Mayella more than the once. In each of the following sentences, the verb agrees with its subject. All people, he understands, deserve respect and kindness. Dolphus Raymond, a white man who prefers the company of African Americans, uses a brown paper bag as a theatrical prop to act like a drunkard. Who was the second witness to testify? Apparently, Jem and Dill did not find Mayella's testimony riveting and Jem proceeds to explain the finer points of the trial to Dill during the brief recess. She compares Mayella to Boo Radley, who has not been outside in twenty-five years. This statement puts the courtroom ill at easein Maycomb, black people arent supposed to feel sorry for a white person. Rather than shoring up her story when she is cross-examined, however, Mayella's testimony underscores the fact that she is lying. Mayella lives a harsh life of poverty with no means of escape. Use this CliffsNotes To Kill a Mockingbird Study Guide today to ace your next test! Mr. Dolphus Raymond, the alleged town drunk who lives with a black woman and their children, overhears them. He asks Tom to stand. What on earth was her life like? Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a brown paper bag? It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony I could see that it was no use to him." When Mayella reacts with indignation to Atticuss courteous words, however, Scout feels sorry for her too. He pleads with Mayella, asking her to tell the truth: that Tom never raped her, and that it was her father who hit her. Mayella and her father are trying to destroy an innocent with their false accusation. Latest answer posted December 18, 2020 at 11:09:54 AM. What happens on Scout and Jems walk home from the harvest pageant? Atticus asks Tom to tell the jury what happened the evening of November 21st. She feels rather more pity, in fact, than Judge Taylor does. Mayella cuts a pathetic figure in the witness box. 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