No love

Author's note: This piece is a character analysis on Mayella Ewell from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.  I tried to analyze  her behavior,actions and relationships with other characters.

Mayella impatiently walked to the stand; she knew the guilt and pity she condemned would only grow when reminded about that awful day. Mayella thought to herself “What happens if they find out Tom is innocent? I love Tom and I know he loves me, at least I think he does; but why does it have to be this way?” After a few minutes of answering questions, Mayella completely lost all composure and it was evident that she was speaking anything but the truth. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee reminds us of how important love is because without love we may end up doing desperate things for it.

Mayella wasn’t the brightest girl in Maycomb County; however who could blame her?Growing up with no mother and an abusive dad does have its long term effects. Clearly Mayella’s behavior is evident through her actions and decisions.  At nineteen without a formal education, a problematic family, issues of neglect, and a “victim of “rape”, is not exactly the ideal life.  In some instances, it led her to act out by not having anything else important to do with her time and her life. The reason I say this, is because the paragraph on pg. 179 describes Mayella acting out on the witness stand. “Mayella stared at him and burst into tears. She covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed.” Now if  Mayella were telling the truth that outburst most likely wouldn’t have happened.

 Seeing that Mayella is weak, and doesn’t contain any self confidence resulted in her inability to have healthy or steady relationships.  If you’re not happy with yourself, it is evident that you don’t always have the best relationships with people, as this was proven to be true for Mayella Ewell. During the time being on the witness stand Atticus asked Mayella the question of friends and her reaction was very uneasy.  The witness frowned as if puzzled. “Friends”?  Clearly the only friend of her was Tom Robinson and he even said himself on page 197. “ Yes suh,I felt sorry  for her, she seemed to try  more’n  the rest of ‘em .”  Unfortunately she ruined the only two relationships she shared, due to her irresponsible behavior and self pity.

 Within the few chapters Mayella is present, she doesn’t change or alter in anyway; therefore, she is a static character. Even though she can’t help her situation she can do something about it. Unfortunately Mayella never realized the harm she caused to others and revealed the true coward she was. In all honesty, I should feel sorry for this character; however, she will not receive any sympathy from me or Atticus,Jem and the rest of the Maycomb folks who are aware of what is principle.

Underneath, Mayella just wanted to  be loved and to love someone back. However, it is obvious that after time she only grew more desperate and more anxious.  She did anything she could for love,even if the person was not of her color.  Overall when it comes down to it,the color of your skin doesn't mean anything. As the saying goes “Desperate times calls for desperate measures.” Desperate for love, she forced herself onto a man she couldn't have, and by doing so, she made her own situation worse.