To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee shows many people deserving of compassion, during the difficult times of the Great Depression. Mayella Ewell is a misunderstood girl who is exposed for her false and gross accusations against an innocent African American. When looking at Mayella's home life, being the eldest of many motherless children, Mayella must take care of her poor and broken family, a burden she must shoulder alone. Mayella and her lonely life push her to kiss Tom Robinson, a black man who took pity on her hard life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This book illustrates the pitiful life of Mayella Ewell, a character worthy of compassion, despite her socially unacceptable actions. Despite living in a large family, Mayella Ewell, portrayed as a lonely person, has no one to help her but herself. When Atticus shows Mayella Ewell that "A nineteen-year-old girl like you must have friends," Mayella thinks Atticus is mocking her, proving that Mayella actually has no friends. Mayella clearly never spoke to anyone about her age as she said she only went to school for two or three years. Scout's awareness at the trial that "Mayella must have been the loneliest person in the world", shows that it was clear to the people present at the trial that Mayella was a motherless child surrounded by her siblings who did not respect her and had an abusive father attitude that he often left the family for long periods of time due to his drinking problem. On a larger scale, Mayella is isolated from the world, living her life separately due to her humble status as an Ewell. Because of the world of loneliness that surrounds Mayella, she seeks comfort in Tom Robinson, a black man, to feel dominant and controlling in a situation, for once in her life. When Tom Robinson emphasized in the trial "I was trying to help her," it demonstrated that Mayella's imminent actions towards Tom were dictated by desperation and loneliness, not cruelty. At the beginning of Mayella's testimony, her lie while on the stand, convicting Tom Robinson guilty of rape, was caused by the fear instilled by her father, Bob Ewell, and her attempt to make him proud. Throughout the courtroom scene, revealing details about Mayella's harsh upbringing and relationship with her father are called into question, when she responds to Atticus' question about Bob Ewell's behavior with "he acts tolerable, except when he drinks" , hesitating due to his father's presence in court. the court room. Mayella, paralyzed by the fact that her father might beat or sexually abuse her if she doesn't lie to convict Tom Robinson of a crime he didn't commit, is torn between her morals and her fear of a horrible future that may await her. Even during the testimony, Mayella cries several times, covering her guilt and fear with the excuse that Atticus was mocking her, presenting Mayella as a fragile and vulnerable character. Atticus responds to the situation with “Let her cry if she wants, judge. We have all the time in the world", knowing that Mayella was not ready to tell the truth with her father in close proximity. At the end of the court case Atticus begins asking several questions at once, and Mayella breaks down emotionally, ending her testimony with feelings contrasts of anger, fear and guilt. The outcome of the trial and the lie that Mayella acted during her testimony were the result of the harsh background and.