Mayella Ewell is a character in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She lives in the town of Maycomb, Alabama where the inhabitants are very sexist and judgmental. Mayela grows up in poverty with a deadbeat, drunken dad, who was physically and sexually abusive to her. She does not have any friends, and she lived that way for a long time. She might have stayed lonely if it had not been for Tom Robinson. Tom is an African American man who made acquaintances with Mayella. They became somewhat of friends until Mayella chose to change her life. In an attempt to end her father's abuse, she falsely accuses Tom Robinson of rape. Although, Tom Robinson is convicted her father could never knowingly make sexual advances after her encounter with a black man. Mayella will stay isolated from society for the remaining years after her father's death. Mayella had a troubled life, but her class, race and gender keep her powerless.
Class can be defined as a variety of issues. Mayella and her father fall low on the issue of finance. …show more content…
The only reason Mayella won the case was due to the fact Tom was a colored man. She never would have won if Tom was of a different race. Tom had more evidence to support his case. “ There is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella was beaten savagely by someone leading almost exclusively with his left.” (DBQ pg.15) It is later proven Tom is not left handed, nor can he use his left hand due to injuries he accumulated before. Tom being of African American descent would never have had a chance. The minute someone opened their mouth accusing a colored person, meant that colored person was guilty. Mayella's race had nothing to do with what would have happened in that courtroom. Although race in her town can give others power, in this situation there is proof it had not given her