Society's Influence On Mayella And Ruby Bates

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La“Evil rarely comes in the form of monsters, but rather in the form of relatively normal people who, for reasons of careers, idealology, or a desire for society’s approval, are indifferent to the human consequences of their actions”-Hannah Arendt. In both the fictional case of Mayella Ewells and the non-fictional case with Ruby Bates, they revealed their evil natures in the pursuit of careers and society’s approval. It can certainly be seen the influence that society has had on Mayella and Ruby to shape them as victims and accusers.
Mayella Ewell and Ruby Bates have both been shaped into victims by society and their families. Mayella and Ruby both grew up in very poor families that lived in black communities and had bad living situations at home. Mayella grew up with an racist, abusive, drunk father that has more than likely raped her multiple …show more content…

Mayella grew up a victim to her fathers disgusting behaviors, making her that much more prepared to play the victim when her father used his intimidation to force her to insist Tom Robinson raped her. Mayella’s father made her a victim by making her think she was worthless and abusing her physically and sexually leaving her to feel like there was nothing she could do in about every situation. Mayella was also heavily influenced by the way that society didn’t care about what the Ewells did because they were so beneath everyone else. Ruby was a young hard worker who had a job at the mill and worked as a prostitute on the side because she needed the money and no one would stop her. Being one of the only white families to live in the negro community, her family was looked down upon and aloud to do whatever because nothing was beneath them. Ruby being treated this way her entire life has molded her