To Kill a Mockingbird - Chapter 18 Summary: The Trial Continues

Key Characters

• Mayella Ewell: The 19-year-old accuser.
• Tom Robinson: The accused, with a deformed left hand.
• Mr. Gilmer: The prosecutor helping Mayella present her testimony.
• Atticus Finch: Defense attorney questioning Mayella and defending Tom Robinson.

Key Events

Mayella Ewell's Testimony

• Mayella is on the stand, angry like her father and brother.
• With Mr. Gilmer's assistance, she gives her testimony, claiming Tom Robinson attacked her.
• She identifies Robinson as her attacker in the courtroom.

Atticus's Cross-examination

• Mayella acts tearful and frightened during questioning.
• When Atticus questions her, she becomes defiant but Atticus remains courteous.
• Atticus highlights Tom's physical incapacity: his left hand is deformed and significantly shorter.
  • Background: Tom's injury was a result of an accident in a cotton gin during childhood.

Key Points Raised by Atticus

• Questions why no one heard Mayella scream.
• Inquires about the whereabouts of the other children during the incident.
• Suggests that Mayella's father could be the actual attacker.
• Mayella reacts with anger, repeating her accusations and calling the jury cowards if they don't convict Tom.

Tom Robinson's Testimony

• Tom Robinson is called as the sole witness for the defense.
• His physical incapability to commit the crime is emphasized.

Themes and Implications

• Atticus's Skillful Questioning: Gently undermines Mayella's story, showing logical inconsistencies.
• Despite clear evidence of Tom's innocence, there is a pervasive sense of inevitable guilt due to racial biases.
• Children's Perspective: They still hold hope based on evidence, despite the adult awareness of likely injustice.

Conclusion

• Atticus's questioning raises significant doubts about Mayella's story.
• The chapter ends with a sense of foreboding about the trial's outcome, emphasizing racial injustice in the legal system.