Skip to main content

What would you conclude about what Atticus plans to reveal when he devotes a great deal of time discussing Mayella Ewell's injuries during the trial?

At the beginning of the trial, Atticus pays particular attention to the location of Mayella's injuries. When Sheriff Tate takes the witness stand, Atticus asks him to describe Mayella's injuries. Tate mentions that Mayella was beaten badly and says that her eye was starting to bruise. Atticus questions which eye Heck is referring to, and Tate initially says that it was her left eye, then recants and says that it was her right eye. Heck...

At the beginning of the trial, Atticus pays particular attention to the location of Mayella's injuries. When Sheriff Tate takes the witness stand, Atticus asks him to describe Mayella's injuries. Tate mentions that Mayella was beaten badly and says that her eye was starting to bruise. Atticus questions which eye Heck is referring to, and Tate initially says that it was her left eye, then recants and says that it was her right eye. Heck Tate confirms that Mayella's right eye was swollen and mentions that the majority of her bruises were to the right side of her face. When Bob Ewell takes the witness stand, Atticus asks him if he agrees with Sheriff Tate's description of Mayella's injuries, and Bob says that he does. Atticus even reads the court reporter's record of Tate's testimony to confirm that Bob agrees that Mayella's injuries were to the right side of her face. Bob says, "I holds with Tate. Her eye was blackened and she was mighty beat up" (Lee 236). Atticus then has Bob write his signature to reveal that he is in fact left-handed.


The reason Atticus spends a great deal of time discussing the location and extent of Mayella's injuries is because he plans to reveal that Tom Robinson could not have been responsible for assaulting Mayella. Atticus knows that Tom's left arm is crippled. A person who throws a punch with their left arm would typically strike the right side of a person's face. If Mayella's injuries are to the right side of her face, it would suggest that an individual who was predominately left-handed beat her. Atticus reveals that Bob Ewell is left-handed, which suggests that Bob was, in fact, Mayella's perpetrator.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...
Post a Comment
Read more