Mayella Ewell, a character in Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, plays a pivotal role in the story. As the daughter of Bob Ewell, Mayella comes from a poor and troubled family living in Maycomb County, Alabama. Her involvement in the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping her, reveals the deep-seated racism and prejudice that existed during the 1930s. Mayella’s testimony is crucial in understanding the dynamics of the case and the social issues prevalent in the town. Here are some important quotes from Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird.
1. “He [Tom Robinson] took advantage of me, an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it, then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards!”
2. “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That [Tom Robinson] nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it, then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you.”
3. “Well, I said I was screamin’ and fightin’ with him the whole time. I said, ‘What you doin’ on this side of the fence?’ An’ he says to me, he says, ‘I’m lookin’ for a nickel.'”
4. “I said, ‘Git me some chiffarobes, why don’t cha?’ He just took advantage of me.”
5. “I said, ‘Come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you.’ He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an’ I went in the house to get him the nickel an’ I turned around an’ ‘fore I knew it, he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did.”
6. “I was tusslin’ with him. I got down offa the chair an’ I turned around an’ he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did. He got me ’round the neck, cussin’ me an’ sayin’ dirt—I fought’n’hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me ag’in an’ ag’in.”
7. “Then he done what he was after.” I got down offa the chair an’ turned around, and he sorta jumped on me. He grabbed me around the neck, he hit me again an’ again.”
8. “I don’t remember too good, but I jus’ remember, ‘fore I knew it, I was sayin’ somethin’ to him—I said, ‘What you doin’ on this side of the fence?’ An’ he says to me, he says, ‘I’m lookin’ for a nickel’s worth of firewood.'”
9. “I said come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you. He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an’ I went in the house to get him the nickel, and I turned around and ‘fore I knew it, he was on me.
10. “Well, I said I best be goin’, I couldn’t do nothin’ for her, an’ she says oh yes I could, an’ I ask her what, an’ she says to just step on that chair yonder an’ get that box down from on top of the chiffarobe.”
Read these important quotes from Mayella Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird
“He [Tom Robinson] took advantage of me, an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it, then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards!”
“I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That [Tom Robinson] nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it, then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards, stinkin’ cowards, the lot of you.”
“Well, I said I was screamin’ and fightin’ with him the whole time. I said, ‘What you doin’ on this side of the fence?’ An’ he says to me, he says, ‘I’m lookin’ for a nickel.'”
“I said, ‘Git me some chiffarobes, why don’t cha?’ He just took advantage of me.”
“I said, ‘Come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you.’ He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an’ I went in the house to get him the nickel an’ I turned around an’ ‘fore I knew it, he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did.”
“I was tusslin’ with him. I got down offa the chair an’ I turned around an’ he was on me. Just run up behind me, he did. He got me ’round the neck, cussin’ me an’ sayin’ dirt—I fought’n’hollered, but he had me round the neck. He hit me ag’in an’ ag’in.”
“Then he done what he was after.” I got down offa the chair an’ turned around, and he sorta jumped on me. He grabbed me around the neck, he hit me again an’ again.”
“I don’t remember too good, but I jus’ remember, ‘fore I knew it, I was sayin’ somethin’ to him—I said, ‘What you doin’ on this side of the fence?’ An’ he says to me, he says, ‘I’m lookin’ for a nickel’s worth of firewood.'”
“I said come here, nigger, and bust up this chiffarobe for me, I gotta nickel for you. He coulda done it easy enough, he could. So he come in the yard an’ I went in the house to get him the nickel, and I turned around and ‘fore I knew it, he was on me.
“Well, I said I best be goin’, I couldn’t do nothin’ for her, an’ she says oh yes I could, an’ I ask her what, an’ she says to just step on that chair yonder an’ get that box down from on top of the chiffarobe.”
These quotes from Mayella Ewell provide insight into her character, the allegations she made against Tom Robinson, and the racial tensions prevalent in Maycomb County. They shed light on the complex social dynamics and the injustice faced by marginalized individuals during that time period. To Kill a Mockingbird remains a powerful literary work that challenges readers to confront their own prejudices and consider the consequences of racism and discrimination.
