Luma Makawi

April 13, 2017

English 9

Garrett Hartwig

The Ewell Family Name

Once a person is wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death, there is [sic] enormous

obstacles they face in turning that around. It's very difficult to get courts to hear new evidence

after a death sentence has been handed down, and it took very diligent lawyers working on his

behalf nearly two decades for that to happen (Rosenberg). Although the defendant, Tom

Robinson, is not sentenced to death, it is very hard for his conviction to be reversed. In Harper

Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch, Scout, tells a story that takes place in Maycomb

County, Alabama during the 1930s. While Scout and Jeremy Atticus Finch, Jem, seek out the

elusive Arthur Radley, Boo, Atticus Finch represents Mr. Robinson in a rape case. This case

causes a lot of tension within Maycomb. This tension would not have existed if Robert Lee

Ewell, Bob, did not lie and take this case to court. Mayella Violet Ewell could have also stopped

the trial from proceeding if she told the truth on the stand, instead of going along with her

father's version of the story. Bob and Mayella certainly do deserve the least amount of respect in

Maycomb.

In this quote, Atticus proves to the jury that Bob beat Mayella since he is left-handed and

Mayella is beaten across the right side of her face. Mr. Tate testified that her right eye was

blackened, that she was beaten around the, [...]. Up on that side of her face Sheriff please

repeat what you said it was her right eye I said, [...]. Whats so interestin? he asked. Youre

left-handed, Mr. Ewell, said Judge Taylor. Mr. Ewell turned angrily to the judge and said he

didnt see what his being left-handed had to do with it, that he was a Christ-fearing man and

Atticus Finch was taking advantage of him (Lee 235-237). If a right-handed person hit Mayella

she would have been bruised on the left side of her face. Later in To Kill a Mockingbird Tom
Robinson stands up and shows the crowd that his left arm is twelve inches shorter than his right

arm. Atticus explains that Tom's arm was caught in Dolphus Raymonds cotton gin when Mr.

Robinson was a boy. Harper Lee mentions this to inform the reader that Bob beat Mayella and

framed an innocent man in court.

In Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell played a huge role in Tom Robinsons

conviction. She could have told the truth about the supposed rape, but Mayella did not. I got

somethin' to say an' then I ain't gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an'

if you fine fancy gentlemen don't wanta do nothin' about it then you're all yellow stinkin'

cowards, stinkin' cowards, the lot of you. Your fancy airs don't come to nothinyour ma'amin'

and Miss Mayellerin' don't come to nothin', Mr. Finch (Lee 251). This quote shows how

Mayella was determined to get Mr. Robinson convicted of rape. By Atticus definition, she is

indeed white trash. Ms. Ewell knew that Tom never had a chance in court, but for some unknown

reason, she still stuck with her fathers story.

The accusations the Ewells made ruined one family's life, and the truth ruined theirs or

what was left of it. The wrongful conviction and death of Tom Robinson are solely Bob and

Mayella Ewells fault. They deserve the least amount of respect in To Kill a Mockingbird.