Question

In Chapter 17, Sheriff Heck Tate testifies that Mayella Ewell had bruises on the right side of her face and marks around her neck, but no doctor was called to examine her. Atticus has him repeat multiple times that the right side was injured. Injuries to the right side of someone’s face are usually caused by a left-handed person.

Then Bob Ewell takes the stand. He says he heard Mayella screaming, saw Tom Robinson running from the house, and found Mayella hurt. He also admits he didn’t call a doctor. When Atticus asks Bob to write his name, the courtroom watches as Bob signs with his left hand.

What argument is Atticus MOST LIKELY trying to establish through this part of the trial?


Responses

Mayella’s injuries were consistent with being struck by someone standing very close to her.
Mayella’s injuries were consistent with being struck by someone standing very close to her. EndFragment

Heck Tate and Bob Ewell both failed to follow basic procedures after Mayella was hurt.
Heck Tate and Bob Ewell both failed to follow basic procedures after Mayella was hurt. EndFragment

Bob Ewell could have caused Mayella’s injuries, based on her bruises and his dominant hand.
Bob Ewell could have caused Mayella’s injuries, based on her bruises and his dominant hand. EndFragment

Tom Robinson may have fled the scene, but his actions do not prove guilt on their own.

Answer 1

The argument Atticus is MOST LIKELY trying to establish through this part of the trial is:

**Bob Ewell could have caused Mayella’s injuries, based on her bruises and his dominant hand.**

By highlighting that Mayella's injuries were primarily on the right side of her face and emphasizing that Bob Ewell is left-handed (as demonstrated when he wrote his name), Atticus is attempting to suggest that it is more plausible for Bob Ewell to have inflicted those injuries rather than Tom Robinson, who is right-handed. This line of questioning is crucial in casting doubt on the credibility of the prosecution's case against Tom Robinson.