In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, a young woman by the name of Mayella Ewell suffers under her father’s manipulation. Mayella grew up with a terrible home life, no mother, 7 children to raise, and a drunken father. Throughout the book, Mayella displays strong characteristics of being abused and lonely. She had little kindness in her life, but the one person who showed sympathy toward her was Tom Robinson. Tom slowly grew on Mayella, so she tried to make a move on him, and her awful father, Bob Ewell, caught them in the act. To cover herself and her father up, she accuses Tom Robinson of rape. Due to the results of the trial, Bob decides to take things into his own hands and makes a terrible mistake, which leaves her alone with the kids. …show more content…
One act that really shows how truly lonely she is is when she’s asked if she has any friends.”’Friends?’” (Lee, 208). She asked, confused by the question. She then says, “‘You makin’ fun o’me agin, Mr. Finch?’” (Lee, 208). She seemed to take offense to Atticus’s question. Another way that shows her loneliness is during Tom’s testimony he says that Mayella is the one doing most of the work around the house. Tom then says, “‘Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her…’”(Lee, 224). Mr. Gilmer proceeds to question Tom, “With Mr. Ewell and seven children on the place, boy?’” “‘Well I says it looked like they never help her none–’” (Lee, 224). Seeing that Mayella has 7 siblings and her mother is dead she is seen as a mother-figure to the children. Not having a good education, having a terrible home life, and being under her fathers manipulation has caused her to be secluded from her