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Tom Robinson Trial Essay

516 Words3 Pages

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird is set in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression. The story is narrated by Scout Finch as a child, and Jean Louise Finch as an adult looking back on the events of childhood. Scout presents two different perspectives to the Tom Robinson trial. During this period of time, the county was very split up with much tension between different types of citizens and what they believe to be true. Although Mayella is not very powerful throughout the whole book, she gains more power during the trial when she is against Tom Robinson. In a small town like maycomb, most people do not have much money but Mayella Ewell is stuck as the lowest of lows. Due to her family’s low income, Mayella does not have many opportunities to make a life of her own or do anything for herself. She is stuck with her father where Mayella babysits her younger siblings. Also Mayella did not have much of an education to get a job or make money for herself. Many people either looked down on her family because the Ewells were so poor, while others felt sorry for her. During the Tom Robinson trial, Tom was questioned about why he helped Mayella with her chores. He replied “I felt right sorry for her”. Even someone like Tom Robinson admitted that he had felt sorry for Mayella. …show more content…

Mayella’s father took advantage of her and used her. Not only did he use her for chores and babysitting, he abused her verbally, physically, and also sexually. Bob Ewell manipulates Mayella by forcing her to put all of the blame on Tom Robinson during the trial. Mayella is pressured by Bob Ewell, her father, to keep everything that happens at home a secret from everyone else. Also, Mayella admits that her father is tolerable to live with, except when he is drinking. Bob Ewell tries to overpower Mayella any chance he can get, just to make her

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