At Tom Robinson's trial, Mayella reveals herself to be much like her father in several ways, but one significant difference between them emerges. Like her father's, Mayella's behavior is hateful and antagonistic. Her testimony is frequently bitter, sarcastic, and belligerent. Like her father--and most of Maycomb--she is a racist.
Mayella's character, however, is significantly different from her father's in that she is frightened and vulnerable. When she grows a little more confident in her testimony, hers is described as a "stealthy" kind of confidence, not "brash" like her father's. In order to survive, Mayella has learned to view the world with wariness. When Atticus treats her with respect, she assumes he is mocking her. She is not accustomed to kindness.
There is a softness in Mayella that Bob Ewell lacks. She longed for human companionship and love, which led her to attempt the seduction of Tom Robinson. Scout realizes that Mayella "must have been the loneliest person in the world." In Scout's estimation, even Boo Radley's loneliness was less intense than Mayella Ewell's.
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