While some critics suggest that Mayella could be a
symbolic mockingbird because of her father's abuse of her, she possesses some striking
differences from Tom Robinson, one of the novel's figurative mockingbirds. Tom is
completely innocent of manipulation or any wrongdoing. In fact, his very goodness is
what leads him to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mayella, while
admittedly innocent in the situation with her father, intentionally lures Tom into the
Ewell home (she even saves up money so that her siblings will be out of the house during
her attempted flirtation). Even though Mayella did not premeditate the framing of Tom
for rape--that seems to be an act of self-preservation on her part--she does continue
with her false story even when treated respectfully by Atticus and even when she knows
that a man's life is at stake.
For critics who view Boo
Radley as another mockingbird, Mayella does share some similarities with him. Both made
poor choices (Boo's pulling a teenage prank, and Mayella's attempted seduction of Tom)
which led to life-changing consequences. Both are awkward socially and elicit a fair
amount of sympathy from the reader, and both have been mistreated by their fathers.
However, Boo is a better fit as a mockingbird because he harms no one yet endures the
ridicule of many. In contrast, Mayella is partly responsible for a man's
death.
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