| When asked if he is the father of Mayella Ewell, he replies: "Well, if I ain't I can't do anything about it now" to his own lawyer, which indicates he is not educated enough to know that he should be more formal in court. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Tom replies that he was scared he would end up in court. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! What does his testimony suggest about the relationship between Mayella and her father? She holds a Mississippi AA Educator License. You can view our. After Dill starts crying, Scout takes him outside and asks him if he is feeling sick. The phrase "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" refers to intentionally and pointlessly destroying something that does no harm. Example: S{\color{#c34632}S}S This book of poems is one of my favorite possessions. The African American community feels angry and upset, but they cannot show it in public. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Atticus is establishing for the jury what life is like at the Ewell home; they are extremely poor, Mayella has no friends, the father is an alcoholic. Many racist white people feel that justice was done because a black man is always guilty, no matter what. In other words Mayella had little power in her class. Mr. Gilmer questions why Tom ran, if he had done nothing wrong. To Kill a Mockingbird chapters 20-21 review, To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 22-25 Test #4, To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 26-28 Test #4, IRREGULAR VERBS: English Irregular Verbs 2022, Glencoe Language Arts: Grammar and Language Workbook, Grade 9, Vocabulary for Achievement: Fourth Course, GCE Chemistry A Atticus concludes his questions by asking why he ran. What on earth was her life like? The citizens of Maycomb react to Toms death in many different ways. Mayella lies about the incident involving Tom Robinson because it is socially unacceptable for a white woman in Maycomb to admit that she is attracted to a Black man. Her situation is so dire that even the judge fails to chastise her the way he should. When he came inside, Tom attacked her and took advantage of her. When he moved to leave, she asked him to get a box from on top a large chiffarobe. In each of the following sentences, the verb agrees with its subject. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Why does Dolphus Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a brown paper bag? It is unlikely that he could have caused Mayella's injuries, which were on the right side of her face. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Historical Context Essay: The Scottsboro Boys Trials, Literary Context Essay: To Kill a Mockingbird & The Southern Gothic Tradition. After Atticus's cross-examination, Scout mentions that she feels numb and looks over at Jem and Dill, who are both yawning. Mr. Gilmer gets up and cross-examines Tom. He tried to leave but she block the door. Atticus had done so because Mayella suffered bruising on the right side of her face. He visits Maycomb every summer, and as it becomes clearer that his own family is erratic and insecure, readers understand that the Finches and his Aunt Stephanie are, in fact, his true family. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Her thoughts are interrupted by Atticus asking Tom if he had ever gone onto the Ewell property without being asked. Mayella just says that she was taken advantage of, and if the upper class gentlemen won't prosecute Tom, they are cowards. In Chapter 19, a more literal interpretation of the destruction of innocence is conveyed. In To Kill a Mockingbird , author Harper Lee uses memorable characters to explore Civil Rights and racism in the segregated southern United . The people in the courtroom become loud for a moment when Tom says Mayella hugged him. This is where Chapter 19 comes to an end. Atticus asks for more details about the struggle, then he asks many questions which Mayella doesn't answer: Why didn't the other children hear her screaming? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. When Scout and Jem learn that their father is known as the best shot in the entire county, they learn to see Atticus with a greater sense of respect. for a customized plan. Atticus gains no pleasure from this as it reveals the sad and disturbing truth about the Ewell's homelife., especially as it relates to Mayella and her father's relationship. Tom's arm has been damaged in an accident and shows that he could not have struck Mayella on the right side of the face as she claims. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He couldn't stand the hateful way in which Mr. Gilmer spoke to Tom during the cross-examination. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Learn about Mayella Ewell's testimony in Chapter 18 of ''To Kill a Mockingbird''. Struggling with distance learning? When Atticus began questioning Mayella, he treated her with politeness. Mr. Ewell is sexually abusing his daughter: "She says she never kissed a grown man beforeShe said what her papa do to her don't count". Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Tom says he had to pass by Mayella's house every day. She says that she called Tom Robinson inside the fence that evening and offered him a nickel to break up a dresser for her, and that once he got inside the house he grabbed her and took advantage of her. She thought he was making a mockery of her. Even though she is a child, Scout understands that Mayella's outrage at being treated with courtesy indicates that she is not usually treated kindly. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Complete your free account to request a guide. He explains that on many occasions Mayella has asked him for help with her chores, and he always helps her without asking for payment. What is a quote that depicts Mayella accusing Tom Robinson of rape in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Please wait while we process your payment. Tom testifies that he always passed the Ewell house on the way to work and that Mayella often asked him to do chores for her. This uncertainty causes her to equivocate on the stand. Furthermore, while examining Mayella, Atticus revealed Tom's left arm was badly mangled in a childhood accident and does not function. When he reached for it, she grabbed him from behind. Chapters 16-19: Reviewing the Witness Testimony Suggested Responses General: "Witnesses had been led by the nose, as asses are"Scout Witness Testimony Children's Reaction(s) My Reaction(s) 1. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. According to him, what happened on the day of the alleged crime? and Scout can tell that though Mayella tries to keep clean, she's regularly unsuccessful. As Jem reads aloud to her every day for a montha punishment for destroying her camellia bushes after she harshly criticizes Atticusshe weans herself from her morphine addiction by refusing her medicine for longer and longer each day. When Mr. Deas stands up for Tom, it shows Scout that theres another person in town whos not racist and whos willing to courageously stand up for whats right, even if he knows hell get thrown out. Although Scout and Jem are tolerant and more aware of racial injustice than many of the other white residents of Maycomb, they still make some statements during the trial that suggest that they are not completely free of prejudice. Tom walks past the Ewell's house everyday on the way to work. Jem observes that she has just enough sense to get the judge sorry for her.. Analyze Mayella's responses, including her body language, to Atticus's questions about her father. As the chapter closes, Atticus is about to call one more witness. Mr. Gilmer then asks Tom if he is accusing Mayella of lying, but he says no, that "she's mistaken in her mind.". Mayella lived in a time when Class, race, and gender were a big controversy. We can have little real sympathy for Mayella Ewellwhatever her sufferings, she inflicts worse cruelty on others. Tom tells Mr. Gilmer that he was afraid of being accused of something he didn't do. From her testimony, the courtroom observers learn that her family lives in poverty, and she takes care of the house and her seven brothers and sisters. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Please wait while we process your payment. He insists that he did not hurt Mayella in any way, and tried to get away from her without 'being ugly to her.' Based on his description, what sort of person do you think he is? It is at this point that Scout realizes how "poor and ignorant" Mayella really is. There was "something stealthy" about [it] it was like "a steady-eyed cat with a twitchy tail.". Bob Ewell is satisfied because his lie worked, and Jem is furious and incredulous. He then asked Tom why he helps out Mayella. She takes Dill under the trees, and Dill explains he couldn't stand how Mr. Gilmer was treating Tom. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Mr. Gilmer then moves on to focus on Tom's strength. Judge Taylor quiets them, and Tom must continue. He asks Tom to stand. He says to Tom that he was "mighty polite to do all that chopping and hauling for [Mayella]" and wonders why Tom was "so anxious to do that woman's chores?". He explained that he was scared of being arrested for a crime he didn't commit. It is in this way that Tom represents the mockingbird. She told the jury what they wanted to hear, so it was an easy lie to tell. Scouts attempts to talk Dill down, meanwhile, betray her own internalized racism. Then Atticus asks if she remembers if Tom hit her face, because in her previous answer she just claimed he choked her. Dill insists that does not matter, and that it is not right for anyone to be treated that way. She lied to protect herself. He has mixed-race children and lives among the African American community as one of them. One of the central themes of To Kill a Mockingbird is the destruction of innocence. Directed by Robert Mulligan, based on Harper Lee's novel. It is then when her father saw them, Tom says that Mr. Ewell yelled at Mayella, calling her a whore. When Mayella begins to cry, Scout observes that, "Somehow, Atticus had hit her hard in a way that was not clear to me, but it gave him no pleasure to do so." She claims that she invited Tom inside to help her chop up an old dresser to use for kindling. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Although Atticus is an old father according to Scout, he dearly loves his children, Scout and Jem, and offers them a role model of integrity, wisdom, trust, and honesty. Tom tried to run away, but she was standing between him and the door. Atticus then elicits from Mayella a description of her life. On the evening in question, he recounts, she asked him to come inside the house and fix a door. Sometimes it can end up there. Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell is a loving father, and with hesitation, Mayella says that he is "tolerable" except when he has been drinking. Unlike Tom Robinson, Boo Radley is not destroyed, though he does suffer greatly. Tom understands very well the deep racism that exists in the Southern judicial system. His answer caused quite a stir in the courtroom, because in their eyes a black man shouldn't pity a white woman. They. | 3 Atticus Finch then begins to cross-examine the witness. This statement puts the courtroom ill at easein Maycomb, black people arent supposed to feel sorry for a white person. Atticus and Tom Robinson in court from the film To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). While Bob Ewell is filthy, Mayella seems to try to keep herself clean. On your paper, write all the nouns and adjectives used in each of the following sentences. It is evident that Tom Robinson is innocent of the crime he has been accused of. Explain why Tom's testimony has the effect of making Scout feel sympathetic towards Mayella. Mr. Link Deas says, "I just want the whole lot of you to know one thingThat bots worked for eight years an I ani't had a speck o' trouble outa him". Tom Robinson takes the stand. She herself much resembles Scout, the narrator and main character of the novel. Atticus asks if this was the first time Tom Robinson has been invited into her house, and she jumps a little before she says that it was the first time. Write P if the subject and verb are plural. flashcard sets. Where were they? The sheriff also testifies that her injuries were on her right side. When Mayella reacts with indignation to Atticuss courteous words, however, Scout feels sorry for her too. The jury specifically, and the town of Maycomb generally, destroy a good person who has never done harm simply because of the color of his skin. The trial takes place in the county courthouse in Maycomb, Alabama, and is in the small town's spotlight, so both the town and the courthouse are packed with spectators. She then started to kiss him. As clear as it is that Tom is innocent, it is equally clear that Tom is doomed to die. What does Bob Ewell's description of his daughter, Mayella, suggest about his feelings towards her? Who was the second witness to testify? Atticus does this to establish Tom's credibility with the jury. The Mayella Ewell testimony occurs in Chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird. She starts to explain what happened but says that she needs to go back and provide the necessary context in order for the story to make sense. Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell is a loving father, and with hesitation, Mayella says that he is "tolerable" except when he has been drinking. In short, Scout and Jem have never encountered a woman like Mayella, and they have a difficult time processing both her tragic situation and her erratic personality on the stand. from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University, The children are both initially dubious about Mayella Ewells character and her testimony. In her cross-examination, we learn Mayella is nineteen and her family receives relief checks, but there isn't enough food to go around; her father seems to be a drunkard. Scout wonders if Mayella has "good sense," and Jem wonders if she's just trying to get the judge to feel sorry for her. Scout claims that Mr. Gilmer is just doing his job as a prosecutor. When the jury convicts Tom Robinson of rape despite the absence of physical evidence and despite Atticuss compelling defense, the jury is guilty of the same unnecessary cruelty. Judge Taylor furiously expels Deas from the courtroom for interrupting. 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