Is Mayella a criminal or victim
Is Mayella a Victim or Criminal
The norms of society are infectiously pervasive. Sometimes it’s these norms, which don’t let the society appreciate the potential it has causing the innocent victims of society to turn into criminals. It is not just the society which plays a role in creating criminals in fact family and home life is quite influential as well. We notice this when Mayella a nineteen-year-old commits the unspeakable crime of accusing a black man of a rape- who is completely innocent. Even though this event may portray Mayella as a criminal and a racist being, but Mayella herself is a victim of society’s prejudice thinking, her family, and, loneliness.
In the city of Maycomb the Ewells have always been looked down on and considered white trash. The Ewells are neither accepted by white people due to their social standing nor black people who disassociate themselves with the Ewells because they are white. Mayella, being different from the other Ewells, wants to experience the world outside of the filth she lives in: “Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums.” The germaniums suggest that Mayella desires to be better than her surroundings, to aspire to higher things. Another reason as to why she immediately seizes her chance to finally access the privileges of white womanhood after years of living among pigs. She is someone who does not want her identity to be associated with the Ewells. However, at the end of the day society does not see Mayella for who she is but instead a Ewell. Society’s norm leaves Mayella completely lonely and isolated, so her attraction to Tom Robinson is a consequence of this seclusion.
Due to her mother’s absence, Mayella being the oldest of the eight children is forced to look after the younger Ewell children, since Bob is out drinking up his relief check. Her relationship with her father is incestuous and abusive, but she doesn't have anywhere to go or anyone to
The norms of society are infectiously pervasive. Sometimes it’s these norms, which don’t let the society appreciate the potential it has causing the innocent victims of society to turn into criminals. It is not just the society which plays a role in creating criminals in fact family and home life is quite influential as well. We notice this when Mayella a nineteen-year-old commits the unspeakable crime of accusing a black man of a rape- who is completely innocent. Even though this event may portray Mayella as a criminal and a racist being, but Mayella herself is a victim of society’s prejudice thinking, her family, and, loneliness.
In the city of Maycomb the Ewells have always been looked down on and considered white trash. The Ewells are neither accepted by white people due to their social standing nor black people who disassociate themselves with the Ewells because they are white. Mayella, being different from the other Ewells, wants to experience the world outside of the filth she lives in: “Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums.” The germaniums suggest that Mayella desires to be better than her surroundings, to aspire to higher things. Another reason as to why she immediately seizes her chance to finally access the privileges of white womanhood after years of living among pigs. She is someone who does not want her identity to be associated with the Ewells. However, at the end of the day society does not see Mayella for who she is but instead a Ewell. Society’s norm leaves Mayella completely lonely and isolated, so her attraction to Tom Robinson is a consequence of this seclusion.
Due to her mother’s absence, Mayella being the oldest of the eight children is forced to look after the younger Ewell children, since Bob is out drinking up his relief check. Her relationship with her father is incestuous and abusive, but she doesn't have anywhere to go or anyone to