Discussion Topic
Tom Robinson's Alleged Assault on Mayella Ewell
Summary:
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell on November 21, 1934. During the trial, it's revealed that Mayella attempted to seduce Tom, and her father, Bob Ewell, beat her after witnessing this. Despite Atticus Finch proving Tom's innocence through evidence, such as Tom's disabled arm, the racially biased jury convicts him. The case highlights racial injustice, as Tom becomes a tragic victim of false accusations and societal prejudice.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, when did Tom Robinson allegedly rape Mayella Ewell?
According to the testimony of Mayella Ewell and her father Bob, the alleged rape took place on November 21 the year before the trial. The date of this alleged act is mentioned several times in Chapter 17. First we hear it from Sheriff Heck Tate when he is being examined by Horace Gilmer, the prosecutor. When discussing the incident, Tate asks the sheriff
"Who called you?'
Mr. Tate said, "I was fetched by Bob, Mr. Bob Ewell yonder one night."
"What night, sir?" Mr. Tate said.
"It was the night of November 21st..."
Later in the chapter, when Bob Ewell is called to the witness stand, Mr. Gilmer specifically asks the witness about the events of the evening of November 21. Mr. Ewell testifies that it was shortly before sunset on that particular evening when he found Tom Robinson assaulting Mayella.
In the following chapter, Mayella Ewell is also...
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asked to describe the events of the evening of November 21. She says it was on that evening that she asked Tom to chop up an old chifferobe for her and that's when he attacked her.
In Chapter 19, Tom Robinson testifies that he chopped up the chiffarobe for Mayella the previous spring, not in November. Atticus asks Tom what happened to him on the night of November 21. Tom testifies that Mayella attempted to kiss him. He says that he tried to leave at that point, but that was when Bob Ewell arrived.
Of course, it becomes clear from the testimony and the evidence that the alleged rape never occurred. Tom fled the scene when Bob Ewell arrived out of fear for his own safety, and Bob beat his daughter and blamed it on Tom.
Was Tom Robinson guilty of assaulting Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird?
Despite the contradicting testimonies of the Ewells and a lack of evidence, Tom Robinson is wrongly convicted of assaulting and raping Mayella Ewell. Mayella Ewell made sexual advances towards Tom Robinson, prompting Tom to run out of her home. Still, Bob Ewell witnessed Mayella kiss Tom, and Bob Ewell proceeded to assault his daughter. Atticus explains in his closing remarks that Mayella felt guilty about breaking the "time-honored code" of not having relations with a black man. In order to cover up her offense and protect her father, she falsely accused Tom Robinson of assaulting and raping her. Atticus illuminates the fact that Tom Robinson has a crippled left hand and would not have been able to inflict the serious injuries to the right side of Mayella's face that she has. Mayella's bruises around her neck also indicate that someone with two strong hands choked her. Atticus suggests that Bob Ewell assaulted his daughter in order to punish Mayella for kissing Tom. Although Tom Robinson is not guilty, he becomes another victim of racial injustice after he is wrongly convicted.
When was Mayella Ewell allegedly "raped" in To Kill a Mockingbird?
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell was never assaulted or raped by Tom Robinson. However, Mayella claims Tom beat and raped her on the evening of November 21, 1934. Mayella and her father present conflicting testimonies and accuse Tom Robinson of committing the crime. Tom denies their fabricated stories and says Mayella attempted to seduce him and was caught by her father. Tom says he understood the precarious situation he was in and ran away as fast as he could. Atticus reveals the likely possibility that Bob Ewell beat his daughter after witnessing her kiss Tom Robinson. Mayella's accusation that Tom assaulted and raped her was done essentially to "save face" in the community. Atticus's case accurately depicted the series of events that took place on November 21st, but failed to convince the prejudiced jury that Tom was innocent. Unfortunately, Tom is found guilty of a crime he did not commit and becomes a victim of racial injustice.