All of
the evidence and eyewitnesses stories added up to what Mayella said,
and that is why it is ironic that Tom said Mayella was "mistaken
in her mind". Both stories made sense, but Mayella showed a lot
more confusion over the events and admitted that her father drank, which had
come up in both recounts of what had happened. Harper Lee includes this because
it not only shows how Tom wasn't permitted to say that a white person was
lying, but it also shows how much more power a white person held over what an
African American was allowed to say or do. Also it shows
that Mayells's story did have inconsistencies. When Atticus was
questioning Mayella in the courtroom, the flaws were apparent; "’Yes,
he hit-I just don’t remember, I just don’t remember’… ‘I ducked and it-it glanced, that’s what it
did. I ducked and it glanced off.’…’You’re becoming suddenly clear on this
point. A while ago you couldn’t remember to well, could you?’” (Lee 250). She
continues to change everything that she says and it goes to show that she was
the one on trial. Toms story was consistent and made sense, but hers was the
deciding factor on what happened and she couldn’t seem to remember what
happened.
Mayella may have entered the court and thought that being white would save the day, but Tom was well spoken, remembered a lot of things, and could actually answer questions. From a stand point in modern day, the obvious winner would be Atticus, but race is still very prominent in the court and could change who wins. Mayella keeps looking back at Bob Ewell and it is like he is the one who was in her shoes, and he is the one creating what she says. When she couldn't the answer questions she cried and gave excuse after excuse. An example is "I got somethin' to say an' that I ain't gonna say no more... That nigger yonder took advantage of me." She states that it happened but gives no evidence.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with what you said, in real life Mayella knows what happened, but she fooled herself into believing something else. Also, in Mayella's testimony she leaves a lot of blank spaces and trails off from the questions she is asked whereas Tom explains the situation clearly and thoroughly answers his questions. For example, while Mayella is being asked "Why don't you tell the truth child, didn't Bob Ewell beat you up?"(Lee 251) she saids "That nigger yonder took advantage of me an' you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanna do nothin' about it..."(Lee 251). Also, during her testimony Mayella glances to her father, Bob Ewell as if she is clarifying that what she is saying goes along with the story they want to tell, not the truth. This testimony shows that Mayella stuck to the story she believes in her head, not the truth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cece, Tom had to say she was “mistaken in her mind” because he wasn’t allowed to say she was lying being and African American man during that time. I also think that if Tom had said she was lying, the jury wouldn’t even listen to his side. The jury wouldn’t consider his story if he blatantly said that a white lady was lying. Just like Mayella had to chose her words carefully so did Tom.
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