LBQ Writing Response

Power is defined as the ability to have control over the life of another person. In ​To Kill a
Mockingbird​, Mayella Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of raping her. He is brought to trial due to
the power of Mayella. Eventually, Tom is found guilty of rape and then is put in prison. Despite
Mayella’s low class, her race and gender provide her significant power to have control over Tom
Robinson’s life.
Mayella Ewell is an indigent, white woman and is at the bottom tier of the social class, other
than blacks. “Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was once a Negro
cabin…” (Doc A), while most of the other whites lived in town. This is evidence of her social
class because she lives where blacks used to, as well as beside a trash dump. She also gets
offended when she is called “ma’am” and “Miss Mayella” because she feels that people of her
class should not be referred to with those terms (Doc C). Mayella’s class does not contribute to
her power.
Mayella’s race provides her with power because she is white and is testifying against a black
man. During the time ​To Kill a Mockingbird ​was written, blacks had no power. “...I ain’t ever
seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man,” (Doc D). Tom Robinson was
innocent and should have been found innocent but was not because he was black and Mayella
was white. “...but there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten
savagely by someone who led almost exclusively with his left….” (Doc B). Tom Robinson could
not use his left hand which proves he did not do this to Mayella and that he was found guilty
because he was black.
Although Mayella’s gender gave her little power in most aspects of her life, her gender gave
her great power over Tom Robinson. During Atticus’s closing argument to the all male jury, he
asks the jury not to go along with “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….” (Doc
D). The quote shows that men feel they need to protect women. The view of women being
inadequate to protect themselves causes Mayella to have power.
Even though Mayella has very little power due to her social class, she still has enough power
due to her race and gender to have a negative impact on Tom Robinson’s life. Mayella
eventually causes Tom to lose his life after he attempts to escape prison. The power Mayella
has is used to control Tom’s life.