In chapter 18 we are introduced to the victim, Mayella. She is put up on the stands after her father. Harper Lee gives off little hints that Mayella is smarter than her family; she can read, she is the eldest of the chirldren. And because of this we begin to feel a little sympathy for her and we are lead to believe that Atticus is a bad guy who is being very mean to Mayella
‘don’t want him(Atticus) doing me dirty like he done papa’ – Mayella
‘I won’t try to scare you(Mayella) for a while, not yet.’ – Atticus
Atticus’ further supports me augment that Mayelka is being toyed by Atticus and that Atticus is being wicked and twisted. I gathered this from the use of ‘not yet’ as it suggests that Atticus, if not being vile now, he will soon.
However other quotes suggests that Mayella is becoming impatient and angry by Arricus’ in capability to ask important questions and treating with the respect that she thinks she deserves
‘Mayella’s hostility, which had subsided to grudging neutrality, flared again.’
June 2, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Blert,
You have chosen some purposeful quotations that really help to show Mayella’s character. The level of your own expression does not match the sophistication of what you are trying to express – this post could definitely do with re-reading and editing to be sure your meaning is much clearer and meets your usual standard of sophistication.
Consider
Is Atticus being playful when he says ‘I won’t try to scare you for a while, yet’? What evidence can you find in the text to dis/agree with this?
June 2, 2015 at 10:46 pm
Much better – it makes a big difference to the overall argument you present here as your interpretation of Atticus is clearer.
How about that final description of Mayella – is there anything to be gained from exploring the language here?