Abuse. Torture. Murder. These are the main causes of terror that control the actions of the people of Maycomb in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. In every case of human life, everyone has something that terrorizes them and it affects them in some way. In the novel, Lee reveals that the people of Maycomb’s actions are swayed by fear, as shown through the fear exhibited by Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson.
Due to Mayella getting beat by her father, Bob Ewell, she is forced to lie on the stand at Tom’s rape trial and claim that Tom was the one that had beat her. While answering a question at the trial, Mayella “looked at her father” for approval and reinforcement to lie (Lee 245). Mayella checks in with Bob before answering, because of the fear that Bob has instilled in his daughter. The terror being that her father will beat her again if she answers truthfully. When Tom went up to …show more content…
On page 265, Lee reveals that Tom was “scared” that he’d be “in court” just how he becomes to be. This explains his terror of his future consequences that might get him executed or sentenced for life in prison. After finding out that “Tom’s dead”, Atticus then reveals to the reader that “He was running…during their exercise period “to the fence and “started climbing over” then the guards shot him (Lee 315). Due to Tom’s fear of his life in prison, he decided to try and escape, showing that his terror has affected his decision and had caused him to be killed. This exemplifies the affect that one’s fright can control one’s decisions.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee presents that terror in the citizens of Maycomb causes them to alter their actions. Lee proves this through the inclusion of Mayella and Tom’s events that cause them distress. There are no changes when there is no terror, although there are changes in life when there is
Due to Mayella getting beat by her father, Bob Ewell, she is forced to lie on the stand at Tom’s rape trial and claim that Tom was the one that had beat her. While answering a question at the trial, Mayella “looked at her father” for approval and reinforcement to lie (Lee 245). Mayella checks in with Bob before answering, because of the fear that Bob has instilled in his daughter. The terror being that her father will beat her again if she answers truthfully. When Tom went up to …show more content…
On page 265, Lee reveals that Tom was “scared” that he’d be “in court” just how he becomes to be. This explains his terror of his future consequences that might get him executed or sentenced for life in prison. After finding out that “Tom’s dead”, Atticus then reveals to the reader that “He was running…during their exercise period “to the fence and “started climbing over” then the guards shot him (Lee 315). Due to Tom’s fear of his life in prison, he decided to try and escape, showing that his terror has affected his decision and had caused him to be killed. This exemplifies the affect that one’s fright can control one’s decisions.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee presents that terror in the citizens of Maycomb causes them to alter their actions. Lee proves this through the inclusion of Mayella and Tom’s events that cause them distress. There are no changes when there is no terror, although there are changes in life when there is