What Is Tom's Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee is a novel based on growing up and racism during the 1930s in Maycomb, Alabama. Told in two perspectives; one as Jean Louise Finch, who is reflecting back to her childhood, and the other as her younger self who went by the name of Scout. As the story progresses, Scout’s father, Atticus, has been assigned to represent Tom Robinson, a black man, who has been accused of raping and assaulting Mayella Ewell. At the end of the trial, Tom is still convicted guilty of the crime, even though there was enough evidence to prove his innocence. This is because of the power Mayella holds since she is white, but because of her class and gender, her power is limited. In the town of Maycomb, a person’s class can decide how much influence they have. Within Maycomb there are four classes; the first class is made up of white people who work in the professional fields, the second class includes the white farmers, the third class is composed of the “ poor white trash,” and the fourth class is the African American. (Lee, 17). Considered to be the third class of Maycomb, the Ewell’s merely survive by living off of welfare. (Lee, 3). Moreover, the Ewell’s were described to have “lived behind the town’s

For all the women had to do was clean the house, care for the kids, and cook meals, while the men were out working and providing the money. In Mayella’s situation her father has a large amount of control over his life and the lives of others, in his family. He easily takes advantage of Mayella, abuses her, and instead of choosing to spend money on necessary items he “spends his relief checks on green whiskey.” (Lee, 3). Nevertheless, her gender also creates a benefit to her on winning the trial. In spite of Mayella’s class and gender being the cause of her limited power, a detail that does give her power is her