What Is Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

1485 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Injustice in the court to kill a mockingbird

Power is the temptation of the human society, it's what drags us in to get what we want, Good or Bad, but in this case, power takes its lead in a selfish way. To Kill a Mockingbird is mainly about whites and blacks rights differ in society which revolves around a trial case between a black man named Tom Robinson and a white woman named Mayella Ewell. The trial was held because Tom was accused of raping Mayella, and being sent to an all-white jury. As this trial case continues on, Atticus who is defending Tom, clearly proves evidence and also shows that Bob Ewell, father of Mayella, and Mayella herself are lying. Tom and Mayella both give their side of story from their point of view of what happened on that day. Tom, whom explained fully …show more content…

To explain how race makes Mayella powerful basically explains the fact that she is white and Tom is black, it’s been known and proven that back in those days, whites had more power than whites of being treated.. For instance, “The way that man called him “boy” all the time an’ sneered at him….’ (Doc C)” By means of this is how whites treat blacks differently from their own race. This gives Mayella an advantage because of her race. Another reason to prove goes on against blacks again, “that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women….’” (Doc D)” This shows that whites considered blacks all the same, no matter if they proven or say that they are good, they will always be known and considered of evil or bad. Then again this gives Mayella an advantage because of her race, white, whom are represented as being the good of all. To give in another reason against blacks was when Tom had said, “Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her….’ (Doc E)” This made Tom, himself a bad image towards whites and including blacks, because of his mistake for saying that he felt sorry for her. Again with the mistake that Tom said, this shot him down to the last of it, the trial was over. …show more content…

The weaknesses in this trial included class. In other words of how this made her powerless was because her reputation was the same like blacks, her property was like a garbage dump. Another weakness was her gender and because of this is because she is a female who doesn’t have power and also females are treated or acted upon differently which made an impact of her being powerless. Then lastly race, again said is because whites have more rights and freedom than blacks. This made Mayella powerful because whites have more power than blacks no matter what situation it is. Therefore to sum up her victory and power was all because of racism. I strongly believe that a trial shall not be held if victory is based on upon race, every human being of all races shall be treated the same and with equal rights to one another and

Show More
Related

  • To Kill A Mocking Bird

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    To Kill a Mocking Bird expresses the racist attitudes of Maycomb most dominantly in the court case involving Tom Robinson (who's lawyer is Atticus Finch) and Mayella Eule. The trial makes blatantly obvious to the reader that Tom Robinson, the black man accused of rape is innocent and yet the jury finds him guilty. It also establishes that Mayella was actually beaten by her father and although the evidence that points to this occurrence is circumstantial, it is made perfectly clear. The court case also clarifies to the reader the frightful nature and obvious abundance of racism within the small town of Maycomb.

    Read More

  • Mayella Ewell's Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1071 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mayella Ewell lived in a racist southern community in the 1930’s. During this time, no one was treated the same because of their skin color or if they were intelligent. Mayella has one thing that makes her powerful, her race. Laws back then were harsh. Between white and black, both were wrong and mean to each other.

    Read More

  • How Harper Lee makes Mayella Ewell a Vulnerable yet Contemptible Character in To Kill a Mockingbird

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is Mayella's deceit that brings Tom Robinson to trial. Though she may not be forgiven for this lie, Atticus and Scout feel sympathy for her because of the terrible poverty in which she lives. Whenever Scout feels sorry for Mayella we do as well as we are viewing the trial from her point of view.

    Read More

  • How Does Atticus Show Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird takes readers to the roots of human behavior, to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, and the struggle between blacks and whites. Atticus Finch, a lawyer and single parent in a small southern town in the 1930's, is appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, who is accused of raping a white woman. Friends and neighbors object when Atticus puts up a strong and spirited defense on behalf of the accused black man. Atticus renounces violence but stands up for what he believes in. He decides to defend Tom Robinson because if he did not, he would not only lose the respect of his children and the townspeople, but himself as well.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mayella uses this case to cover up the shame in her life because she is extremely lonely, has no self-esteem, and overwhelmed with the amount of unhappiness in her life. Mayella gets extremely defensive in this quote because she knows that everything Atticus has brought up is good evidence and she can’t hold her own. In the jury, it was full of all white men. Mayella acted timid and helpless and suggested in her comment that the man of the jury be brave and heroic. She becomes someone who is vulnerable, valuable, and needs to be protected.

    Read More

  • Victim or Villain? Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the major events in Harper Lee’s award-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson’s trial. It is based on the Scottsboro Case that took place in 1931 in Alabama, in which several black men were accused of raping two white women. Both the Scottsboro Boys and Tom Robinson are unfairly judged, however, because of prejudice against colored people. The racial discrimination makes whites’ testimony more believable even when it contradicts itself. The same happens in To Kill a Mockingbird. As we delve deeper into the case and get increasingly closer to the truth, it is quite suprising to see that Mayella Ewell is the true villain rather than a victim. She shall and must bear full responsibility for her actions because she makes the decision to tempt Tom Robinson, gives false testimony in court that directly leads to Tom’s death, and has been well aware of the consequences of her behaviors.

    Read More

  • Mayella Social Class

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, it is understandable that one can argue that Mayella’s two disadvantages trump her one advantage, socially, and make her a less powerful character in the story. Although it can be debated that women were looked at as a minority and class drives a person’s reputation (which can also lead to the amount of power one possesses), this topic’s evidence is irrelevant to the time that this story took place. Maycomb, Alabama was a very small town filled with conservative and stereotypical people who were stuck in their old ways and were very stubborn when it came to changing their ideas. Race was such a social hurdle that no one could overcome, due to it being a physical trait, during the 1930’s. Even if there was a poor, white woman, she would be automatically respected at a higher level than a wealthier black man. If one’s cultural group were to be ignored in this scenario, a wealthier man would have been at a higher advantage compared to a poor woman. However, race played a large role in this society, and during the court case, “(The Ewells had) presented themselves to you gentlemen (the all white jury), to this court… confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption- the evil assumption- that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women.”

    Read More

  • prejudice in to kill a mockingbird

    1344 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Tom said in the trial that he felt sorry for Mayella (a crime worse than rape in the jury´s eyes) - the lowest class showing superiority for a class above themselves. The white community was frightened for their own position in society; the only reason Tom was found guilty was to maintain the traditional hierarchies.

    Read More

  • Gender Inequity In To Kill A Mockingbird Analysis

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    The trial between Mayella and Tom Robinson is a case where Mayella accused Tom of taking advantage of her. It is hinted that the only reason Tom is convicted is because of the color of his skin. Even though all substantial evidence pointed away from him, he was still found guilty. When the trial between Mayella and Tom Robinson became more heated, women and children are asked to leave. This is offensive not only because it depicts women as too timid to handle a trial, but also because women should have an equal opportunity to witness what’s happening in Maycomb during the trial. In the trial scene, Judge Taylor says, “There has been a request...that this courtroom be cleared of spectators, or at least women and children” (Lee 232). Women are portrayed as frail because they “can’t handle the intensity of the trial,” which is completely absurd. The ladies in Maycomb deal with more gossip and drama than the men do. Not only are women recognized as delicate, but they’re also recognized as being completely incapable of being involved in the law. “‘For one thing, Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman-’ ‘You mean women in Alabama can’t-’ I was indignant. ‘I do. I guess it’s to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom’s. Besides,’ Atticus grinned, ‘I doubt if we’d ever get a complete case tried-the ladies’d be

    Read More

  • Mayella's Stereotypes

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    With this being said, even though Mayella was a low class female she inherited the superiority of being white making it easy for her during the trial. Mayella used her individualistic self pity against Tom Robinson. The little town of Maycomb Alabama knew the truth, but the Ewell’s plan backfired on them. They gained no respect, and are still considered white pieces of trash. As for Mayella individually, she’s not educated but she is very smart. Mayella did have power through race, class, and

    Read More

  • Dialectical Journal Chapters 19-25

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...uth to fully understand that it is typical to act superior to those with colored skin. All Dill sees is a man being rude to another, just because of his skin color. While Atticus clearly shows everyone in the court that it was almost impossible for Tom Robinson to have beat Mayella, he still loses the case just because he was a black man against a white woman. Lee includes, “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” (Lee 323) This enforces how it didn’t matter what Tom was really doing or why Mayella was screaming, but just by the way Tom looked they were able to essentially pin the rape and the beatings on Tom. Of course this was not true and he did not receive the justice he deserved, but that didn’t matter to Maycomb. All that mattered was the color of his skin and what the teenage white girl named Mayella Ewell said about him.

    Read More

  • The Characters Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tom Robinson is at the stand being questioned by Mr. Gilmer. Dill starts to feel sick because of how Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. The narrator explains, “Well, Dill,after all he is just a negro” (Lee 266).This piece of evidence shows that prejudice is used as an antagonist in the novel by giving an unfair trial to Tom Robinson. The quote states “he is just a negro,” which shows that the trial is unfair just because of the towns racial views on people of color. The jury is all white and the case is black versus white. The jury is very biased towards the case. The prosecuting lawyers and defending lawyer are giving their closing statements. Atticus ends with a powerful speech that prove Tom is innocent and his views on race. The jury thinks over all the evidence for a long time and come to a verdict. The author of To Kill A Mockingbird quotes, “Guilty...Guilty...Guilty...Guilty…” (Lee 282). This quote shows the jury is very prejudice. There is more than enough evidence to prove Tom did not rape Mayella and that Bob Ewell beat her. Even though there is enough evidence to proves Tom’s innocence the jury’s verdict is guilty just because of their hate and their prejudice towards African Americans. Ultimately, prejudice is being used as an antagonist is very thoroughly shown throughout the entirety of the

    Read More

  • Why Is Mayella Ewell Not Powerful In To Kill A Mockingbird

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the trial Mayella said, “Long’s he keep telling me ma’am and sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his case his sass, I ain't called upon to take it”(Doc C). During the trial, Mayella was treated a lot better during the case. But on the other hand, for Tom Robinson he was treated unfairly by Mr.Gilmer since he was called “boy” and many other rude names since he was a black man. During the trial, Reverend Sykes said, “Now don’t you be so confident, Mr.Jem, I ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favour of a colored man over a white man”(Doc D). Given these points, Mayella had a better advantage because of her race since most of the county and people were racist. Also it would be very rare for Tom to win since most of the jurors judged off from race instead of actual facts and reasoning.

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird Film Analysis

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mayella, the woman defending against Robinson, comes from a low income and low educated family, making them a poor family. Yet Mayella’s word is still favored against Tom because she still holds a higher social status than Tom just because she is white. In fact, in the novel, Atticus has an important quote regarding the court system that is still true today, “In our courts, when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins.” (Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott. pg. 251-252).

    Read More

  • To Kill A Mockingbird: Influences on Scout from Interactions w/ Others

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scout learns that by yielding to prejudice, we often hurt and cause strife unto others. For example, Scout is harassed and becomes the target of insults when her father decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. This is a plajurized essay. The hate felt towards black people by the majority of the Maycomb citizens causes them to bother and harass those who attempt to befriend the black people. Forgive me for stealing this essay. Scout realizes that the only reason she must undergo this torment is that her father is defending a black man, which has become taboo because of the corruption that racism has caused in many people. In addition, Scout watches Tom Robinson undergo unfair treatment and false accusations. Please dont tell my parents I stole this essay. Although Atticus provides the jury and the people of Maycomb with overwhelming evidence benefiting Tom, and ultimately proving him innocent, this is not enough to overcome the powers of hate and racism. Scout watches as the jury deliberates and convicts Tom Robinson of murder because he is a black man. This is a stolen essay. Although Scout witnesses a myriad of injustices occurring against black people, she also sees an exiguity of kind and compassionate movements towards black people.

    Read More

More about What Is Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

Open Document