Contents
Chapter 18
Overview
Mayella Ewell testifies that Tom Robinson assaulted her, but Atticus methodically exposes contradictions and her bleak home life. The revelation of Tom’s crippled left arm undermines her claims and points suspicion toward Bob Ewell. Mayella erupts in anger, the prosecution rests, and the defense prepares its lone witness.
Summary
Mayella Ewell takes the stand and, after initial tears and fear of Atticus, claims Tom Robinson attacked her when she asked him to break up a chiffarobe. She says she screamed and fought until Bob Ewell appeared and she fainted. Mr. Gilmer secures her identification of Tom as her assailant.
Atticus begins gently, clarifying Mayella’s age, schooling, and home life: poverty, an often-absent and drinking father, many younger siblings, and no friends. Mayella bristles at Atticus’s courtesy, misreading it as mockery, revealing her isolation and inexperience with respect. Atticus confirms Bob’s drinking despite Mayella’s reluctance.
Turning to the incident, Atticus probes inconsistencies about choking, blows to the face, and Mayella’s certainty. He has Tom stand, revealing Tom’s withered left arm, making it improbable Tom blackened Mayella’s right-side injuries as described. Atticus presses why no children heard her and whether she screamed only when Bob appeared.
Atticus pointedly asks whether Bob Ewell, not Tom, beat Mayella. Mayella refuses to answer substantively, then explodes, insisting Tom took advantage of her and denouncing the court as cowards. She refuses further questions. The prosecution rests.
After a brief recess, court reconvenes. Judge Taylor urges finishing that afternoon. Atticus indicates the defense has one witness to call, setting the stage for Tom Robinson’s testimony.
Who Appears
- Mayella Violet EwellAccuser; testifies Tom attacked her, reveals impoverished, isolated home life; grows hostile under cross-examination.
- Atticus FinchDefense attorney; exposes inconsistencies, highlights Mayella’s situation, reveals Tom’s crippled arm, suggests Bob Ewell beat her.
- Tom RobinsonDefendant; revealed to have a useless left arm, undermining Mayella’s account of the assault.
- Judge John TaylorPresides with firm informality; protects decorum, overrules objections, calls recess, resumes proceedings.
- Mr. Horace GilmerProsecutor; elicits Mayella’s accusation, objects to Atticus’s questioning, rests the state’s case.
- Bob EwellObserved in court; implied by Atticus to be Mayella’s actual assailant; his drinking is acknowledged.
- Scout FinchNarrator; observes Mayella’s testimony, notes courtroom dynamics and Tom’s disability from the balcony.
- Jem FinchWatches from the balcony; recognizes Tom’s disability; explains trial details to Dill.
- Dill HarrisObserves the testimony; reacts to courtroom moments alongside Scout and Jem.
- Reverend SykesSits with the children in the Colored balcony; comments on the heat; notes Tom’s injury.
- Mr. Braxton UnderwoodNewspaper editor; watches proceedings, notices the children in the balcony.