This act of hers has left Tom in jail, and his children and wife alone. We hope you listen carefully and thoughtfully to seek the truth of Mayella Ewell's crime. Now, jury members, I will go over the evidence while the county reviews it. Mayella Ewell was under oath on August 21st, over the case of Tom Robinson when she lied. She is said to have called Tom over to bust her chiffarobe, when he had gotten on top of her, then attacked and taken advantage of her.
Next, it is easy to tell that Mr. Bob Ewell and his daughter were more concerned about arresting Tom Robinson rather than the actual case. They were quick to point fingers, but they had trouble paying attention during the trial. When asked by Mr. Gilmer (the solicitor) if he was ambidextrous, Mr. Ewell responded by saying, “I most positively am not, I can use one hand good as the other.” Also, Mayella didn’t hesitate to accuse Tom of hitting her left eye even though Mr. Heck Tate clearly stated that her right eye was blackened. The two witnesses were ignorant and nervous throughout cross-examination.
He instills fear in Mayella, therefore she feels obligated to lie during the court trial, blaming Tom Robinson for raping and choking her, causing the bruises along her neck and face. Mayella stutters when being interrogated by Atticus, almost revealing a sliver of truth when she says, “No I don’t recollect if he hit me. I mean yes I do, he hit me” (Lee 248). This proves to Atticus and those viewing the trial that Mayella is indeed untruthful and nervous to deliver answers with her father overseeing her. Because she was present for the court trial, Scout Finch learns that Bob Ewell is guilty, especially after Atticus reveals that Bob is left handed.
Because of the fear that her father’s beatings will become more aggressive, Mayella Ewell is forced to accuse Tom Robinson of rape. In chapter 19 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson testifies about what Mayella said to him during the incident: “She says what her papa do to her don’t count” (Lee 197). Mayella attempts to conceal that Bob Ewell, her father, physically abuses her. However, the insinuation is verified in Robinson’s testimony and proves he forced her to lie about the rape. Earlier in chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella suspiciously does not answer a question asked by Atticus: “‘Who beat you up?
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one. Many characters in Harper Lee’s mid 20th century novel To Kill a Mockingbird display courage in numerous ways. One character however, jumps out. When first reading the book, most people would say that courage is displayed by those like Jem, Scout, Tom, or Atticus.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. ”(Exodus 20:16) God is very clear about how much He abhors lying. I disagree with Sheriff Heck Tate’s decision because no matter how bad of a man Bob Ewell was, he should have been innocent until proven guilty. He had a right to go to trial. Even though Mr.Radley is referred to as a Mockingbird in the book, we cannot just dismiss the fact that he murdered someone.
Change occurs in weather, seasons, years, fashion, but most importantly of all change occurs in people. While some characters stay the same, throughout the course of any novel, there are characters in which they, or the way they are characterized, changes. This was made evident in Harper Lee’s classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. In To Kill A Mockingbird, the character Bob Ewell is first characterized as an uneducated and selfish individual, but by the end of the novel, he developes into a daring, quarrelsome man.
The fictional story, To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee includes an evil character, Bob Ewell. The story takes place in Maycomb, a southern town in Alabama in the 1930s. The Ewell family is among the poorest in Maycomb, and is low on Maycomb’s social hierarchy. The family name is not very reputable. Bob Ewell is a drunken father of the family.
During the dark walk home, Jem and Scout fall victim to something that only the most cowardly of men would do. They get attacked by Bob Ewell. He, armed with a kitchen knife, tries to “get back at Atticus” for his humiliation by trying the lowest possible act. Killing the innocent children of the grudge. His plan, however, fails, because of someone, who Scout assumes to be Jem.
In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Bob Ewell acts uncivil and abusive. Mr. Ewell seems to care less about the etiquette of the courtroom when he “[makes] a hasty descent from the stand and [runs] smack into Atticus” (Lee 199). Harper Lee includes this scene to emphasize the ill-mannered attitude of Bob Ewell; he shows disrespect to Atticus, even in a courtroom. As the only witness to misbehave, Ewell displays a careless personality and rude behavior toward Atticus, Judge Taylor, Tom Robinson, and the rest of the courtroom. Mr. Ewell, therefore, blames Tom Robinson for raping his daughter Mayella, but Bob Ewell’s abusive actions are revealed when Tom recalls Mayella of saying “what her papa do to her don’t count” (Lee 221).
In this paragraph I will be questioning the Ewells’ reasoning for lying. While reading the court scenes, I got the feeling that Mayella and Bob had separate motives for trying to convict Tom. There are quite a few reasons that Bob would want Tom Robinson convicted. His most demanding motive would have to be the need to cover up the fact that he abuses his children.
Why did Mayella Ewell Lie? In my opinion Mayella could have lied for many reasons. First, I think she lied because she wanted to protect her father. If people found out that her father was the one who raped her; Bob would be seen as a monster in the small town of Maycomb. Bob’s social ranking in the society could have depleted.
Andrew Nicklaus Ms. Mullens English 9H Period 6 4/20/24 To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Rough Draft The symbol of Mockingbird develops two of the novel’s central themes: Racism towards people of color, may lead to the justice of those that inflict it. Bob Ewell got his fateful justice for being racist to Tom Robinson, causing his death. Bob’s manipulation towards his daughter Mayella shows the reader his hate for black people. The symbol of mockingbirds is supported by racism.
Bob Ewell, is Mayella’s father, the villain of the novel and most figures that struts hatred to the African Americans. Bob Ewell has no money, no education, he wants his life to be better, and he pours his anger on whoever is weaker than him. He bashes his daughter when he discovered her intentions towards Tom Robinson; he also tried to hurt Scout and Jem. "I see that black nigger yonder ruttin' on my Mayella!" (84)
Bob Ewell just saw a black man in his home so he just assumed that Tom Robinson was raping his daughter so he started yelling and running around the house to try and get in. Atticus says that he thinks Bob Ewell beat up his own daughter. In To Kill a Mockingbird even though the Ewell’s show to most ignorance the dad Bob shows the most. If you think about it, kids learn from their parents, Mayella learned from her dad. Bob Ewell was the most ignorant out of him and his daughter; he was so ignorant that he had to beat up his own daughter.
