To Kill A Mockingbird Domestic Violence Analysis

From the domestic violence of the Ewells, to the racism, the usual disease, of Maycomb, and finally the poverty that seems to affect every other person in, that town plagued with things that are still experienced today, Maycomb. Unlike most cases of domestic violence, which is the abuse of one intimate partner towards the other, Mayella’s case is slightly different. Mayella is the daughter of the abusive “partner” made into an intimate partner without her consent towards that decision. Domestic violence isn’t the only stain on Maycomb’s reputation, we haven’t even gotten to poverty yet. Poverty is a never ending epidemic in Maycomb, every other family is a victim of some form of poverty. The Ewells and the Cunninghams are two prime examples
for poverty. Although, they are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum, personality wise, they are still in very similar situations. The only differences between them is how they deal with poverty. On a list of words that would be synonymous with Maycomb racism would be number one. Racism is defined as a disease that plagues nearly every corner of Maycomb. Not everyone, although most, in Maycomb has a prejudice towards a set group of people based solely on skin color of others. All of these topics are themes expressed throughout most of the book, even if some show more than others Harper Lee understands how to touch sensitive topics without sparking too much controversy.

Not only is domestic violence a crime, it’s also inhumane. Mayella was unlucky enough to be born not only in a household that is experiencing poverty, but also a household that has an abusive, alcoholic father. Although, their relationship should be loving, them being father and daughter, it was forced into abusive intimacy, by Mr. Ewell, without Mayella’s consent. “She said she never kissed a grown man before an’ she might as well kiss a nigger. She says what her papa do to her don’t count” (Lee 260). This quote provides enough evidence to prove my claim about how Mayella was forced into an intimate relationship with her father by her father, without blatantly saying it but rather leaving us to infer it. While Mayella was being cross examined by Atticus asked if she loved her father. Mayella seemed scared and confused by this question. Just like with friends, Mayella was never really exposed to the actual love a parent should have for their children. Mayella was going to answer a question with the truth but her father, Mr. Ewell, seems to have scared her into telling a lie to Atticus and the judge. “Mayella looked at her father, who was sitting with his chair tipped against the railing. He sat up straight and waited for her to answer. ‘Except when nothin’,’ said Mayella ‘I said he does ‘tollable’” (245). Mr. Ewell never truly loved Mayella in a way a father should love his daughter, instead all he did was use and abuse her. Some may blame his abuse on poverty others may blame it on how he was brought up.

Speaking of which, poverty in Maycomb is just unavoidable for most. Out of everyone in Maycomb, the Ewells and Cunninghams are prime examples of poverty stricken families that reside in Maycomb. Even if both families experience the same hardships, for the most part, as the other they cope with it differently. The Ewells tend to never really care towards paying off debt and showing that they even try in the least, which leads to toxic relationships and mean personalities. “‘report and be damned to ye! Ain’t no snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher c’n make me do nothin’! You ain’t makin’ me go nowhere, missus. You just remember that, you ain’t makin’ me go nowhere!’ he waited until he was sure she was crying” (Lee37). The poverty of the Ewells brought out the extreme angry and mean side of the family that doesn’t understand the word “polite” and “manners”. The Cunninghams, on the other hand, are on the complete other side of the spectrum. They consciously choose to do the things not many do. If something is financially unobtainable they will find a way to get by and somehow pay off debt in an unconventional way. “I asked Atticus if Mr. Cunningham would ever pay us back… We watched. One morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the backyard. Later, a sack of hickory nuts appeared on the back steps” (Lee 27). Poverty brought out the extreme good of the Cunninghams, and the extreme bad of the Ewells. Although, the Cunninghams may not have much to pay people back in, they get by paying them in something other than money. The Cunninghams will pay others in what they have, whether it be work or with hickory nuts and stovewood.

Racism is just as unavoidable as the poverty in Maycomb.
In To Kill A Mockingbird racism is described as a disease that plagues Maycomb. Racism can be symbolised by not only characters in this book, but by an entire town, Maycomb. Other than Maycomb being a symbol of racism, Tom Robinson is a symbol of racism towards the black community in Maycomb. Tom Robinson was put on trial in Maycomb over a false accusation of rape and was convicted for a crime he did not commit. There was also a moment where a mob hunted down Tom Robinson to potentially kill him. “‘He in there, Mr. Finch?’ a man said. ‘He is,’ we heard Atticus answer… ‘You know what we want,’ another man said. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch’” (Lee 202). The mob that confronted Atticus at the Maycomb County jail was most likely looking for Tom Robinson, the person referred to as “he”. Atticus is related to the subject of racism, but in the sense that he detests it. “‘For a number of reasons,’ said Atticus. ‘The main one is, if I didn’t I couldn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town’” (Lee 100). This quote demonstrates how Atticus is dissatisfied with the racism and bias in the town that’s plagued with racism. Atticus wants to change the fact that racism in Maycomb is part of the norm. He took it in his hands to show that the people who point fingers, in this case the Ewells, are part of the problem, and not the black community in
Maycomb.

Racism, poverty, and domestic violence all have one underlying relation to each other in To Kill A Mockingbird.
The two links that connect all three themes are Maycomb and the Ewell family.The Ewells have a reputation around town that refers to the poverty that they were forced into that forced out their extremely rude and hostile side. Mr. Ewell beat his daughter, Mayella Ewell, for coming onto a black man because he thought that was an atrocity. Mr. Ewell also blamed Tom Robinson for all the bruises on Mayella’s face, because he knew that between a black man and a white man Maycomb will always side with the white
man.