How Does Mayella Ewell Tell The Truth In To Kill A Mockingbird

In the book, truth is portrayed as false in multiple ways. First is the court case with Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson. Mayella is claiming a black man has raped her and is pressing charges. Throughout the book, it is made clear to the reader that this is not the case but nonetheless Atticus Finch, a lawyer, is appointed to defend the black man to the people of Maycomb County who do not know the truth. When Mayella was being asked during the case what had happened, she turned the truth against Tom Robinson and explained it to the court by saying “‘...I went in the house to get him the nickel and I turned around around an ‘fore I knew it he was on me’” (241). Although it is not the truth, it is how it was portrayed to the people and they believed

In To Kill A Mockingbird, these morals are no different. One instance where stretching the truth was not appropriate is during the court case. Mayella Ewell may have thought pressing rape charges against a black man was not unethical because she knew she would win and also because everyone would believe her because she was white. However, Tom Robinson’s life being put on the line just because someone decided to not tell the truth was horrific to the children (especially Jem). [Counterclaim and refute] While Atticus was trying to defend Tom during the court case, he asked Tom “‘did you ever set foot on the Ewell property without an express invitation from one of them’” (257) and Tom responded by saying “‘No suh, Mr Finch, I never did. I wouldn’t do that, suh’” (257). Scout thought it odd that he deny it three times in one sentence, but this is her showing that she is trying to grasp onto the truth, something that she is trying to do through the whole book and something that is of great importance watching her grow. An appropriate use of bending the truth in the book is when Calpurnia, the black woman who worked for the Finches, took the children with her to church because their dad was gone doing something for the court case. When they walked up to the front, a nasty black woman named Lula came up and told Cal “‘You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here’” (158). Scout was scared that none of them wanted the children there with Calpurnia because they were white and that their presence wasn’t appreciated; she later found out that they were wanted. Zeebo, the garbage man explained “‘we’re mighty glad to have you all here’” (159). Calpurnia said there were going to be no issues with the children going with her and that the lady was not used to white people coming to their church. This was stretching the truth so the children felt safe and