How Is Mayella Powerful

355 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Femininity in To kill a mockingbird

Who would you consider to be powerful? Your mom? Who you consider powerful comes from what you think power is. I believe having power is the ability to control what happens in your life. Now when it comes to class, gender, and race, is Mayella powerful? I don’t think so. Let’s start with the first one, when it comes class, Mayella is powerless. The Ewells are very poor and live behind the town dump (Doc A). Mayella is so out of touch with normal society that she believed “ma’am” was an insult (Doc C). Tom doesn’t get that type of respect so he gets called “boy” which was used as a racist term for Negroes back then (Doc C). Mayella was also powerless when it came to gender. It is clear that she is abused physically, verbally, and sexually

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Separate Pasts By Melton Mclaurin

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both were interested in the life Melton McLaurin was living. However, Jerry took a special interest in the social life; while, Miss Carter was more interested in his academic career. Their interest, caused a strong and deep bond with the two. They taught him an abundance of life 's lessons. Such as , being an honorable man and to respect others. Many of which , were instilled by his grandfather. But, the realization that segregation was an issue that some couldn 't get over was when Melton returned home from college and saw Jerry and was referred to as a “ mister.” McLaurin had respected them much more then any other black person in Wade, and to hear this respect he was given he was left in a

    Read More

  • Cunningham And Ewell Prejudice In To Kill A Mockingbird

    114 Words  | 1 Pages

    Other than the obvious theme of racism, the movie also touches on the prejudices between social classes and education are seen throughout the movie as well. The behavior and manners of the Cunningham family is what definitely sets them apart from the Ewell family. Although both households are penniless, the Cunningham’s tries to have a neat outward appearance, while the Ewell’s are absolutely untidy. This contrast is noticeable on Scout’s first day of school. Walter Cunningham is wearing a tidy clean shirt and restored overalls; Burris Ewell has dirty neck and face, black fingernails, with bugs in his hair. Both Cunningham’s and Ewell’s are uneducated and they sometime don’t attend school for different reasons.

    Read More

  • The Courageous Events in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was Scout’s first day of school and it was starting out rough. She had been told that she could not read properly and that she needed to stop reading with Atticus. She was miserable and did not want to be involved with school anymore. One day, a little boy named Walter Cunningham did not have his lunch money. The Cunningham’s are very poor and would not take anything that they could not pay back. Miss Caroline, a new teacher in town, had offered Walter a quarter for his lunch but he would not take it. Miss Caroline kept trying to convince Walter to take the quarter but he refused to. You could see the embarrassment on poor Walter Cunningham’s face. Finally, Scout stood up out of her chair and said, “Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham” (20). Scout thought she had made it pretty clear why Walter would not take the quarter. Unfortunately, Miss Caroline was so new in town that she had no idea who the Cunninghams were, forcing Scout to go into more detail with her explanation, “That’s okay, ma’am, you’ll get to know all the county folks after a while. The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back-no church ...

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God Diction Analysis

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ideology of superior classes roots itself in this novel as Janie initially judges people based on their social position. Grammar and slang stand out as it acts as

    Read More

  • miller

    1396 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Winterbourne approaches his aunt, Mrs. Costello, about presenting Daisy Miller to her, much of the heiress’s mind has already been made up about the young American’s character and value. Mrs. Costello comes from a world that prides itself on tradition and an assumed social hierarchy that predisposes many of the old woman’s criticisms before she has ever met Daisy. Many of the issues that make Miss Miller “unacceptable” revolve around her American brashness and the “common” status that the Miller family comes from.

    Read More

  • Remember It's Sin To Kill A Mockingbird Quote Analysis

    507 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since she is so young, Miss Caroline Fisher , a new first grade teacher, disapproves of Scout’s reading abilities. “She discovered I was literate and looked at me in disgust. Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me anymore” (19). Miss Caroline’s dissatisfied opinion comes from Scout’s reading skills which is more advanced than the rest of the class. I noticed that instead of being rewarded, Scout is punished for being more sophisticated. Apparently, Miss Fisher is blinded by old customs of having to educate the class how to write and teach than by Scout’s achievement of reading. Another incident at school earns Scout a hand slap with a ruler when she makes an attempt to make her teacher comprehend why Walter Cunningham will not pay her back if she gives him a quarter for lunch, which only resulted failure and a growing frustration. The professor makes Scout feel guilty for being educated and helping her understand Walter Cunningham when Scout tells Atticus that she does not want to go to school anymore (33). I don’t justify that Scout got off on the wrong foot with her teacher, had to be hand licked nor have taken the responsibility for Miss Caroline’s lack of understanding. Nevertheless, it seemed that in the 1960s the teachers blamed the children for any faults whether it was a misunderstanding or not. Chapter Nine demonstrates an additional unjust occurrence when Scout goes to the family planation,

    Read More

  • Is Mayella Ewell Powerful

    279 Words  | 1 Pages

    Is Mayella Ewell Powerful is because of Her class, gender, and race?That question can be strongly debated by either powerful or not powerful.As we all know there has to be facts to back your opinion.An example:She is white, another could be that she's a

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Persuasive Essay On Courage

    751 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scout explains to Miss Caroline about Walter Cunninghams financial state, “I rose graciously on Walters behalf: ah- Miss Caroline? What is it, Jean Louise? Miss Caroline, he’s a Cunningham. I sat down. What Jean Louise?... That's okay ma’am you’ll get to know all the country folks after a while” (Lee 22). Miss Caroline doesn’t understand what financial or environment positions some of these kids are in and since everyone knows about these kids except for Miss Caroline, all the students in the class have the higher end against her. After an argument with a mean kid in the class, the rest of the students run to her aid, “...we were clustered around her desk, trying in our own various ways to comfort her” (Lee 31). The kids seem to feel bad for Miss Caroline, she broke down and lost her courage that she had in the

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    545 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Cunninghams are mistreated by part of the society in Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra, who mistreats them the most, is prejudiced toward the Cunninghams, she does not like them. She thinks that her reputation, and social status are going to be stained if Scout plays with Walter Jr.. Scout wants to invite Walter over, but Aunt Alexandra does not like Walter, she says that they are folks from different class. She thinks it is best if they do not see each other. She once talks to Scout about how different they are, "Because - he - is - trash, that's why you can't play with him.

    Read More

  • Deaf Like Me by Thomas S. Spradley and James P. Spradley

    1677 Words  | 4 Pages

    The author Thomas S. Spadley is Lynn’s father. He is the one that was with them all the time and saw all that his wife Louise tried for their daughter to understand them. The greatest qualification for him to write this book is that he is Lynn’s father. A father’s perspective is great throughout this book, as the reader I can see the intensity of what the family is going through. Since he is a math professor, and does not have a lot of knowledge in English and time, through the whole book he skips around with what they did and when. Later, on in the book that James P. Spradely, Lynn’s uncle also got involved and helped write the book.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Toohey And Gail Wynand In The Fountainhead

    506 Words  | 2 Pages

    The definition of power can mean many things. The ability to have power can control people in their sayings or actions. Power is a necessary component in any society. Leaders must be established with their power, because, when taken to an extreme, power could not be good. In the novel The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Ellsworth Toohey and Gail Wynand both spend much of their lives consciously seeking power over others. Toohey and Wynand both share the same desire to hold power over people and get power from people.

    Read More

  • Social Class in A & P by John Updike

    372 Words  | 1 Pages

    As the student begins his essay, he points out that Sammy is part of the lower class structure. He is an “eighteen-year-old boy who is working as a checkout clerk in an A&P in a small New England town five miles from the beach” (2191). While working an afternoon shift on Thursday, he notices “these girls in nothing but bathing suits” (2191) enter the store. It is in this scene that the student begins to identify the differences between the group of girls and Sammy.

    Read More

  • Miss Caroline In To Kill A Mockingbird

    260 Words  | 1 Pages

    Miss Caroline is not only a inexperienced teacher, but she is also new to Maycomb. In her eyes everyone is equal and status is not based upon wealth. In Maycomb that's not the case, your family is based upon your wealth. Since Miss Caroline is new she does not know how things are run, Scout knowing this decides to explain it to her, while Miss Caroline insists walter takes some money for lunch since he doesn't have one. Scout begins to tell her how the Cunninghams never take what they cant pay back. This doesn't set well with Miss Caroline, she then proceeds to hit Scout with a ruler and make her stand in the corner. Scout is confused and angered because she was just trying to help her learn about their society. Later, While Miss Caroline was

    Read More

  • The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    To begin with, Miss Moore, Sylvia, and the other children are from the “slums”. However, what differentiate Miss Moore and everyone else in the neighborhood is that she has a college education, and speaks Standard English. As a result, Miss Moore plays the role as teacher to the neighborhood children. Most of the children from the neighborhood were poverty stricken and had a ghetto vernacular. Especially, Sylvia, who mouth is atrocious and has a strong animosity towards Miss Moore. For instance,“Miss Moore was her name. The only woman on the block with no first name. And she was black as hell, cept for her feet, which were fish-white and spooky.” Moreover, Miss Moore has high expectations of the children, so she takes them on a trip outside the hood to unveil the real world. Before going on the trip to the toy store Miss Moore tried to explain the value of money to the children. For example, “So we heading down the street and she’s boring us silly about what things cost and what our parents make and how much goes for rent and how money ain’t divided up right in this country.” At first, Sylvia is t...

    Read More

  • Critical Criticism Of To Kill A Mockingbird

    1939 Words  | 4 Pages

    An example of classism in this novel is the Cunningham family, the farmers that were knocked by the Depression. On Scout’s first day of school, her classmate Walter Cunningham refuses to take a loaned quarter offered by Miss Caroline, their teacher. Knowing this, Jem invites Walter back for dinner with the Finches which then Scout judges the way he eats at the dining table. Calpurnia, a black housekeeper, becomes furious and scolds Scout, “‘That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?’. However, Scout still thinks that, ‘He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham —’. Then, Calpurnia shouts, ‘Hush your mouth! Don’t matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house’s yo’ comp’ny (32-33). In the first place, it is important to know that people in Maycomb are grouped by last name, land and reputation. By looking at the way Scout treats Walter, the difference between the two family’s social status is palpable. Classism is when one is treated differently because they belong to a particular social class. Scout’s attitude towards Walter is an example of classism because Scout does not think that he is an accompany but “just a Cunningham”, meaning that he does not need to be respected. It is also important to recognize Calpurnia’s reaction to Scout’s behavior. She is certainly furious seeing the way Scout treats Walter

    Read More

More about How Is Mayella Powerful

Open Document