The testimony of Mayella Ewell can be found right at the start of Chapter 18. The 19 year old female has recollected the event when the alleged rape occurred. She was supposed to chop up an old chiffarobe but she was not feeling very strong so she asked Tom to do it for her. “He does tollable, ‘cept when -” (page 202). She performs the functions of a parent for 7 other children and has been robbed of an education. Mayella is weak and fearful of her father and agrees to back Bob's story of Tom raping her. Mayella Ewell is a highly sympathetic character, Mayella is a confused and emotional young woman when she testifies in the trial of Tom Robinson. They are both controlled by what the people around them say and do. She is the victim of horrible and abusive influence. Mayella Violet Ewell's Testimony: On November 21st, Mayella explained that she was sitting on the front porch doing nothing. Bob Ewell’s testimony is colorful and fanciful. Though Mayella comes close to admitting that Mr. Ewell beats her when he drinks, she refuses to change her testimony and admit that she accused Robinson of rape, so that she can escape the fact that she broke an important social code as a white woman tempting a black man. Mayella went to school for a few years but none of her eight siblings go, and their mother is dead. She has never recieved any kindness in her life (shown by her thinking Atticus is mocking her by addressing her as Ms Mayella.) First, Mayella approaches her testimony afraid of Atticus, a most gentle attorney who never raises his voice, but searches for truth and will do so in a way that challenges a witness, like he did with Bob Ewell. She claims that Tom Robinson choked her, cursed her, beat her, and raped her. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. She knew Tom and she would invite him over to do her chores. Mayella Ewell Maycomb, Alabama, United States My nameis Mayella Ewell and I live in Maycomb, Alabama. She is nineteen and a half years old. She has a look of regret and concentration on her face as though she is contemplating an invisible object that can possibly harm her. Mayella doesn't seem to have any friends. She offered Tom a nickel for his work. It shows us a look at what it was like to live as an Ewell and how her life was living with a drunk, violent father. The Ewell place is silent. These circumstances have fashioned her into a very lonely woman who attempted to seduce Tom and to lie about it when this attempt was witnessed by her father. Bob Ewell in his testimony said that Mayella had been beaten and raped and he had "Seen it!" The testimony of Mayella Ewell can be found right at the start of Chapter 18. He hit me agin’ an’ agin’ -” (page 199), “Reckon I did, hollered for all I was worth, kicked and hollered as loud as i could.” (page 199), “You are positive that he took full advantage of you?” = Atticus, “I mean, is he good to you, is he easy to get along with?” = Atticus. It is inferred that she is abused by her Father and has no knowledge of what the word friend means. She is nineteen years of age, and the eldest of the eight children of Bob Ewell. Her testimony is enlightening to us all. How old are you?" 3 November 2020 Uncategorized. Her testimony is enlightening to us all. She called to him and told him to come break up a "chiffarobe" for her -- she would give him a nickel if he did. Mayella's Testimony: She says that she called Tom Robinson inside the fence that evening and offered him a nickel to break up a dresser for her, and that once he got inside the house he grabbed her and took advantage of her. The town speculates she's the one who keeps the flowers growing around the shack the Ewells live in. Mayella is in a somewhat similar situation. Mayella is very distraught during her questioning and cries in the witness stand, saying that she is afraid of Atticus. Enjoy reading and share 4 famous quotes about Mayella Ewell with everyone. Mayella Ewell’s Testimony During Mayella Ewell’s testimony, she asked Tom to chop off the chiffarobe for a nickel. They fought. In addition, Mayella's testimony draws the reader to seriously question her credibility as a witness. The white people do not want to have anything to do with him. What does Scout find in the knothole of the tree in the novel, What are some quotes related to Boo Radley that can be found in. She should not bear full responsibility, because of the psychological effect her father has on her. The 19 year old female has recollected the event when the alleged rape occurred. She is a likely candidate to give lies in her testimony. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Atticus uses her testimony to build the argument that she is a victim of her circumstances, and that there is potential that she has been neglected and abused. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Her character development and testimony truly show this in the book. She is from… Mayella Ewell is the supposed victim in the Tom Robinson trial this week. We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for our End-of-Year sale—Join Now! Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell are alike in many ways. Mayella Ewell, sitting on the porch looking out onto the street where Tom Robinson used to walk. The basic idea is that she says that Tom Robinson raped her by force. mayella ewell testimony. When Atticus treats Mayella respectfully, she thinks he is mocking her. MAYELLA EWELL'S TESTIMONY Mayella Ewell is the supposed victim in the Tom Robinson trial this week. Already a member? Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Perhaps Bob Ewell rather than Mayella caused the eventual death of Tom. My mother isn't around anymore and my dad is drunk most of the time and is unable to help me take care of … Mayella Violet Ewell is called to testify in the trial of Tom Robinson in Chapter Eighteen of To Kill a Mockingbird. Mayella is the oldest child of Bob Ewell and an unnamed mother. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. He tries to convince the jury that Tom Robinson raped Mayella. Although Mayella's unreliable testimony and Atticus' cross-examination both suggest that Tom is innocent, the man is unfairly found guilty at the hands of the failed and prejudiced judicial system. During the trial Mayella Ewell gets called up to the witness stands to testify; "Miss Mayella," he said, smiling, "I wont try to scare you for a while, not yet. 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. The only resolve that the defence could find, was placing the blame upon Mayella’s own father. Mayella's testimony adds background to the case. " As Tom Robinson gave his testimony, it came to me that Mayella Ewell must have been the loneliest person in the world" This quote describes Mayella because she never has had any friends and is in a way responsible for her brothers and sisters. Sign up now, Latest answer posted April 25, 2016 at 2:16:00 PM, Latest answer posted February 04, 2010 at 10:24:04 AM, Latest answer posted May 22, 2011 at 6:28:34 AM, Latest answer posted November 06, 2012 at 7:54:50 PM. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. In so doing, we necessarily rely heavily on the trial testimony Atticus Finch elicits in his direct examination of Tom Robinson and his confrontational cross-examination of Mayella. There was circumstantial evidence from Tom's testimony that it was probably Bob Ewell who assaulted her. Atticus asks her to identify the man who raped her, and Mayella points to Tom, who Atticus asks to stand. However, there were several discrepancies in the testimony that she provided under questioning and cross examination. Mayella takes the stand and asserts that she was sitting on the front porch of her family's home when Tom Robinson passed by. The testimony of Bob Ewell at Tom Robinson's trial from the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird The defendants lawyer, Atticus Finch, tried to capitalize on the contradictory statements made by Ms. Ewell. “ The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. Mayella Ewell Maycomb, Alabama, United States My nameis Mayella Ewell and I live in Maycomb, Alabama. Yes- Mayella has lived a harsh life. Mayella Ewell’s Testimony – Quotes – Junior Cert English "He got me round the neck, cussin' me and sayin' dirt - I fought 'n' hollered, but he had me around the neck. However, he admits that no one went to get a doctor for her. According to Tom Robinson’s testimony, Mayella claimed that she was inexperienced with men, stating that “she says what her father do to her don’t count,” insinuating that Bob Ewell … I have many brothers and sisers that I have to take care of all the time. Though one can pity Mayella because of her overbearing father, one cannot pardon her for her shameful indictment of Tom Robinson.-----Mayella Violet Ewell is a thick bodied, fragile looking, uncivilized girl. He hit me agin' an' agin' -" (page 199) "Reckon I did, hollered for all I was worth, kicked and hollered as loud as i could." Mayella jerked her head resentfully at … It’s a sin because all mockingbirds do is sing and bring joy to the world. When she went into the house to get the nickel, he grabbed her. In his cross-examination of the witness, Atticus demonstrates that Mayella is motherless, uneducated, friendless, and unfairly made responsible for the well-being of the family, including her drunkard father. No children anywhere, no drunken nor boisterous father that never would be again. Click to see full answer When … Log in here. the whole story of Mayella in To Kill a Mockingbird, or all that we can know, we must make inferences that exceed the grasp of the eight-year-old Scout. "Said I was nineteen, said it to the judge yonder." ( Log Out /  So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, thats something Ill gladly take. I have many brothers and sisers that I have to take care of all the time. Miss Mayella herself has testified as a first hand witness to this crime, and recounted the fateful events of the day in question. Top subjects are History, Literature, and Social Sciences. Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell is a loving father, and with hesitation, Mayella says that he is "tolerable" except when he has been drinking. In Atticus’s cross-examination, … This is something that Tom Robinson has no responsibility for. The basic idea is that she says that Tom Robinson raped her by force. She has no friends, and is therefore lonely. However, she insists that he never lays a hand on her or beats her. ( Log Out /  “He got me round the neck, cussin’ me and sayin’ dirt – I fought ‘n’ hollered, but he had me around the neck. ( Log Out /  Change ). In Mayella's testimony she says that she had asked Tom to chop of a chiffarobe, which is a large dresser, into kindling. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Mayella Ewell: Bob Ewell's abused, lonely, unhappy daughter. (page 199) "You are positive that… Top subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and History. The author portray Mayella Ewell as a symbol of ignorant innocence warped into an outlet of evil, specifically the strain of racism. Mayella claims that she had asked Tom to "bust up" the old chiffarobe for her in exchange for a nickel; when Mayella went into the house to retrieve the nickel, she states that Tom followed her, grabbed her by the neck, and began hitting her and cussing her--a violent attack which allegedly ends in Tom raping her. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. She finally tells Mr. Gilmer that her father asked her to chop up an old chiffarobe (chest of drawers) for kindling, but she didn't feel strong enough. Her flesh and blood that raised her and her brothers independently when their mother died. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. She can be described as damaged goods due to her poor quality of life. When she went inside to go get the nickel, Mayella says that Tom followed her inside and had assaulted her first before he raped her. “”Mayella Violet Ewell–!” A young girl walked to the witness stand. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Are you a teacher? She says that she was hanging out on her porch when he walked by. Bob Ewell testified that he saw Tom Robinson with his daughter Mayella. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. ©2020 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harper Lee’s novel tells the story of two children, Scout and Jem Finch, as they come-of-age in Depression-era Alabama. Contemplating an invisible object that can possibly harm her testified as a witness performs the functions a., no drunken nor boisterous father that never would be again a Mockingbird to Log:... Effect her father and has been robbed of an education floor and took... 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