Mayella Ewell Essay Example For Students

Mayella Ewell Essay About the end of the book, there is one of the most important scene of the entire book: Atticuss speech in the trial. This speech was made in order to defend Tom Robinson, a coloured man, who is charged to have raped Mayella Ewell. Even though Atticus Finch knew since the beginning that the case would be unfair and he would lose it, he did all he could for winning the trial. What was actually opposing to the justice, in Atticuss point of view, was the immorality of the Maycomb folks: they estimated the colour of the skin more than the individuals personality. In his speech Atticus is trying to persuade, to convince the jury that Tom Robinson was not guilty, but somebody in the courtroom is. His speech is articulate and it follows some of the rules that are needed to make a persuasive speech. First of all we can say that the goal of Atticuss speech is realistic: it is evident by the fact that they are in a court and they are discussing about something that really happened. The second important thing is that in Maycomb everyone knows each other. Thats may be a fortune or a misfortune, but in Atticuss case its a good thing: in that way he had a wide view over his audience/jury, he got to know them every day better after almost 50 years of living, and now he could manage, as a literate and wise man, to identify with his audience and make his audience identify with him. These two first points are followed by very good evidences. Atticus is defending Tom Robinson as he was his own son: the proofs for Toms innocence were good enough if the jury wouldnt be so attached to time-honoured code of their society. Atticus defences were well-thought: Mayella Ewell was savagely beaten up by someone left-handed, but the only hand Tom could have used was his right one. Hadnt him been seen by Mr Ewell, Tom wouldnt have even touched her. What is unbearable by all the society in Maycomb is Toms evidence: it was Mayella that actually kissed him, that jumped on him; but who would ever believe to a niggers words? Another thing to highlight in Atticuss speech is that hes representing the other side accurately and sympathetically. Hes not blaming them aggressively, by he is trying to open up their mind, to prove that is not that just Negroes lie. Finally he asked the jury, his interested audience, to review without passion the evidence that you have heard, come to a deci sion, and restore this man to his family.In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, believe Tom Robinson. In these two final sentences he calls upon the jury to take an action, and he shows that he does care about this tiral. We may finally say that Atticuss speech seems to be a respected persuasive speech, even though we cant tell whether he moved/changed the jurys conservative attitude due to Tom Robinsons death and the consequently not-given verdict.