Is Mayella Powerful Essay

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Is Mayella Powerful?
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird most of the novel revolves around the case of Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell. Mayella put herself in a dangerous situation when she was caught with Tom, in order to save herself she claimed that Tom had beat and raped her. Tom was wrongfully convicted with the assault and rape of Mayella. The question is that through class, race and gender is Mayella Ewell powerful? No I do not believe that Mayella is powerful, whether she won her case or not she would end up as a poor Ewell in the same dump. Mayella Ewell is one of the poorest residents in Maycomb, she is abused physically and mentally by her father Bob Ewell. She is an uneducated white woman living in a very poor home with six other …show more content…
Her race gave her the upper hand through prejudice against african-americans. As Tom had said that he felt sorry for Mayella everyone throughout the court disapproved of an african-american being put above a white woman. That statement made Tom guilty and lost him the slight chance he had at winning the case. Mayella had already won the trial but it would continue for a while longer. Mayella being a white woman gave her the advantage in manipulating the court. During the trial Mayella claimed that Tom had taken advantage of her. Mayella was able to make this into a reality for the court and everyone in it. Although Mayella was able to manipulate these people she in no way had power over them or Tom, if any other white woman had made the claim that Tom had raped them the outcome would have been the same. Mayella won the trial because of her race and prejudice against african-americans. WIth this I believe the question of whether Mayella is powerful or not is answered clearly. In this essay it proves that in this time period and area of the United States prejudice reigned supreme and was very oppressive in the lives of african-americans. The fictional lives of the people in Maycomb, Alabama are a perfect representation of America in the 1960’s. The unfair trial of Tom Robinson is one of few oppressive acts during this time for african
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