What about the viewpoint of Mayella in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in a modern revision?

Question

Has another writer explored the viewpoint of Mayella in To Kill A Mockingbird? Rather than a false accusation of rape, what about the violence of a father towards a daughter. Racism between Caucasians and Africans is there, but it exists even between different groups in Asia. Women are treated poorly in many cultures.
A: Actually, that's a very good idea indeed. Many authors have taken over characters from other stories and incorporated them into a whole new storyline. Musician from Bridgeport CT wrote a song..."Daughters" - about this. Book of Job even ends with with father having to treat the daughters as equals with the sons/brothers. Interesting...

First two have some appropriate analysis, but what about the character Mayella doing something new in a modern update/revision (it is a book-movie)?

Since New Haven and Bridgeport (and Waterbury) will be participating in the Big Read with this book, perhaps we can make a cool tourst event using the map and audio file tour at http://www.yale.edu/visitor/mp3tour.html Just a crazy idea right?

20 cities all ove the US will be discussing and reading this book in Mark and April of 2007. This is sponsored by the NEA www.neabigread.org

Answer 1

Mayella is indeed a victim--of being poor and of being a woman in a time and place where she wouldn't likely have been taken very seriously. Ironically, it wasn't the black man who attacked her, but she made what seems to be a very awkward attempt at seduction by kissing him.

The conventional Southern belief at the time was that white women had to be protected from the uncontrolled sexual urges of black men; white Southerners tended to buy into this belief, no matter what their social status.

As I recall the story, her father came on Mayella kissing Brock (I think that was his name--I haven't read the book in years) and beat her, then filed a false rape report. In the 1930's South, accused was just about convicted in such a case. Even after Atticus offered proof that Brock could not have beaten Mayella, the jury still convicted him.

There is a great deal of irony in the fact that Mayella chose to cross the color line in her attempt to explore her own sexuality. Since the color of her skin was about the only thing she had going for her (her family was likely considered to be 'white trash,' but at least they were white), the reader is left wondering why she would choose to attempt such a thing. It could well be that at some level, she felt that she could always claim that he "took advantage" of her, thereby preserving the illusion that she was just another victim of unbridled black lust.

Now, in a modern version of the story, Mayella might just surprise everyone by asserting her right to be involved with whomever she chose, and might have made her father's incest and abuse come to a screeching halt by speaking up about them to proper authorities. She and her siblings would likely have ended up in foster care.

I don't think, in a modern version, that Tom Robinson (thanks, Silverside--I was obviously confusing the character with the man who played him in the movie, Brock Peters!) would have been charged with rape at all--the evidence was simply not there to support it.

Answer 2

When people respond, it is interesting to see if they are confusing the movie adaptation with the book. There is a stage play version too. Why did this author never write another book?

Modern update of Mayella would have to consider changes in view of women as partners in a male-ego world. This could be a very compelling update.

Answer 3

As I recall, Tom Robinson was the only person who treated Mayella with courtesy and dignity. No wonder she fancied that she wanted a kiss from him--or more. Certainly the rest of the town treated her--as they treated all the Euells--as "white trash." And her father clearly had an incestuous, abusive relationship to her. Unfortunately, her circumstances didn't not encourage her in any way to pursue any passion outside her horrible circumstances. Her total lack of respect for herself (combined with her fear of her father and the social mores of the 1930s south) causes her to turn on Robinson with the false rape claim, rather than speak the truth and fight for her right to a life.