During the 1930’s there was a case of white people against black boys in the town of Paint Rock, AL (Ransdall).” This case was known as The Scottsboro Trials. A novel written by Harper Lee titled To Kill a Mockingbird has similar plot in which a black man, or Negro, was accused of raping a white woman (Lee). Both of these stories have similarities and parallels that are interesting to indulge in.The social characteristics, stigmas, and opinions if superiority influence the behaviors and decisions of those involved in both trials. The social traits in both plots lead to characters wrongly convicted and others misled by untrue stories that appeal to their biased ways of thinking.
Both of these plots take place at a time where racism was a way …show more content…
The girls had no problem speaking their mind and gaining attention from the people around them. In an interview with Hollace Ransdall she claims, “Victoria Price, particularly, convinced me that she was the type who welcomes attention and publicity at any price (Ransdall).” Mayella Ewell was also not keen on biting her tounge. While on the stand she declared, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t want nothin’ to do about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards… (Lee 251).” Not only what they said was questionable, but their actions were too. Mayella and Victoria had urges to be with men even though it was socially frowned upon. For example, Victoria Price was with a man the night after the case (Ransdall). Victoria not haing any problems with being with a man soon after she has supposedly been raped draws a very skeptical picture on the events she testified happened. Mayella Ewell was not innocent either. “She knew the full enormity of her offense, but because her desires were stronger than the code she was breaking, she persisted in breaking it (Lee 272).” This demonstrates that the two women didn’t act the way they should, but did things according to their own desires. This is probably the reason why the women acted the way they did during their …show more content…
However, if the same action were to be done by the opposite ‘color’, it would be okay. For instance, it is okay for a white man to mistreat a white woman, but unacceptable for a white women and white man to like each other. Mayella’s father was known to mistreat her. During the trial Mayella was asked about her father. Atticus, father of Scout, receives an answer from Mayella’s words and her father’s actions, “” I said he’s tollable.” Mr. Ewell leaned back again. “Except for when he’s drinking?” asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded (Lee 245).” Mr. Ewell’s body language indicates there was an answer from Mayella he did not want shared with the courtroom. The idea that it was okay for Mayella to be mistreated by her father but, “The Nigger must be kept in his place (Ransdall),” demonstrates her town’s morals. Maycomb, as a community disliked Negroes so much that it was sociably unacceptable for a white women and a black man to be seen together. “A Negro will always, in their opinion, rape a white woman if he gets the chance (Ransdall).” That idea was so strong that even Scout recognized, “[Mayella] did something that in or society was unforgivable: she kissed a black man (Lee 272).” These opinions did not only affect the people on a social status, but a judicial one as
Both of these plots take place at a time where racism was a way …show more content…
The girls had no problem speaking their mind and gaining attention from the people around them. In an interview with Hollace Ransdall she claims, “Victoria Price, particularly, convinced me that she was the type who welcomes attention and publicity at any price (Ransdall).” Mayella Ewell was also not keen on biting her tounge. While on the stand she declared, “I got somethin’ to say an’ then I ain’t gonna say no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t want nothin’ to do about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards… (Lee 251).” Not only what they said was questionable, but their actions were too. Mayella and Victoria had urges to be with men even though it was socially frowned upon. For example, Victoria Price was with a man the night after the case (Ransdall). Victoria not haing any problems with being with a man soon after she has supposedly been raped draws a very skeptical picture on the events she testified happened. Mayella Ewell was not innocent either. “She knew the full enormity of her offense, but because her desires were stronger than the code she was breaking, she persisted in breaking it (Lee 272).” This demonstrates that the two women didn’t act the way they should, but did things according to their own desires. This is probably the reason why the women acted the way they did during their …show more content…
However, if the same action were to be done by the opposite ‘color’, it would be okay. For instance, it is okay for a white man to mistreat a white woman, but unacceptable for a white women and white man to like each other. Mayella’s father was known to mistreat her. During the trial Mayella was asked about her father. Atticus, father of Scout, receives an answer from Mayella’s words and her father’s actions, “” I said he’s tollable.” Mr. Ewell leaned back again. “Except for when he’s drinking?” asked Atticus so gently that Mayella nodded (Lee 245).” Mr. Ewell’s body language indicates there was an answer from Mayella he did not want shared with the courtroom. The idea that it was okay for Mayella to be mistreated by her father but, “The Nigger must be kept in his place (Ransdall),” demonstrates her town’s morals. Maycomb, as a community disliked Negroes so much that it was sociably unacceptable for a white women and a black man to be seen together. “A Negro will always, in their opinion, rape a white woman if he gets the chance (Ransdall).” That idea was so strong that even Scout recognized, “[Mayella] did something that in or society was unforgivable: she kissed a black man (Lee 272).” These opinions did not only affect the people on a social status, but a judicial one as