How Does Mayella Ewell Have Power In To Kill A Mockingbird
The famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee deals with Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Throughout the novel, the juvenile Scout Finch transforms into a more mature young lady. There are numerous conflicts that she becomes involved in, such as the trial of Tom Robinson where Tom is wrongfully accused of raping a poor, white woman by the name of Mayella Ewell. Mayella Ewell, daughter of Bob Ewell, is questioned with having power. Power can be described as one who has control over his or herself. Gender, race, and class are the main points that are used to determine and measure one’s power. Mayella Ewell does not possess power in the three main categories known
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Mayella and her family’s income and living condition is poor. Her family lives behind the town garbage dump that used to belong to African Americans. African Americans were considered to be the inferior race during this time. Scout Finch says “Its windows were merely open spaces in the walls...What passed for a fence was bits of tree-limbs, broomsticks and tool shafts.” (Lee 1960 170) to describe the Ewell’s yard. Mayella and her family did not have much education. When Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, addressed Mayella as “Ma’am” and “Miss Mayella”, she thought that Atticus was mocking her. Clear evidence that Mayella has never been shown respect or has been educated enough to know that Atticus was being polite to her. Given these points, poor and uneducated Mayella has never had respect. Overall, power is significant in To Kill a Mockingbird. Gender, race, and class are the three primary factors to determine someone’s power when analyzing a character in the novel. Mayella Ewell in particular is, the less superior gender during this time. She is uneducated academically and has a very low income. Her class and race consequently lead to her loneliness and isolation in Maycomb. Mayella Ewell does not have power in accordance with gender, race, and
Mayella and her family’s income and living condition is poor. Her family lives behind the town garbage dump that used to belong to African Americans. African Americans were considered to be the inferior race during this time. Scout Finch says “Its windows were merely open spaces in the walls...What passed for a fence was bits of tree-limbs, broomsticks and tool shafts.” (Lee 1960 170) to describe the Ewell’s yard. Mayella and her family did not have much education. When Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, addressed Mayella as “Ma’am” and “Miss Mayella”, she thought that Atticus was mocking her. Clear evidence that Mayella has never been shown respect or has been educated enough to know that Atticus was being polite to her. Given these points, poor and uneducated Mayella has never had respect. Overall, power is significant in To Kill a Mockingbird. Gender, race, and class are the three primary factors to determine someone’s power when analyzing a character in the novel. Mayella Ewell in particular is, the less superior gender during this time. She is uneducated academically and has a very low income. Her class and race consequently lead to her loneliness and isolation in Maycomb. Mayella Ewell does not have power in accordance with gender, race, and