Essay On Power In To Kill A Mockingbird

In a place and time where power was determined by class, race, and gender a poor white woman such as Mayella Ewell is not powerful. Power is defined as having control of one's life. In the story To Kill A Mockingbird Mayella has very little control over her life, she is extremely poor and living in a time with an evident gender bias. To Kill A Mockingbird is told from two perspectives by the protagonist, Scout Finch. Parts of the book she is looking back on the past, while parts of the book are narrated as the story is happening.
One’s power is greatly influenced by wealth.. Being able to control one's life includes being able to leave and get out of the situation they are in. Mayella is unable to do this because she cannot afford to go somewhere else.”Maycomb’s Ewells lived behind the town garbage dump in what was once a Negro cabin.”(Lee 1960 227) The Ewells are so impoverished that they lived behind a garbage dump. This low level of wealth …show more content…
As a result of the time period the story takes place in many white people have a significant advantage over others. However, Mayella does not experience these same benefits.Being able to get a job and an education was on the advantages white people had at this time . In contrast Mayella is not educated and does not have a job.Another advantage white people had at this time was being allowed in nicer restaurants, movie theaters, and other similar places. On the other hand, she could not afford to go to any of these places. Mayella did not have the same advantages as many other white people during this time period.
In the story To Kill A Mockingbird Mayella is poor and suffering from an obvious gender bias. Mayella has very little power, which is defined by having control of one’s life. This is because she lives in a time where power is greatly determined by gender, race, and class. As a poor white woman Mayella does not have much control over her