That her father, Mr. Ewell, had abused her, not Tom Robinson.
Atticus wants Mayella Ewell to admit that her father, Bob Ewell, physically abused her, rather than accusing an innocent man, Tom Robinson, of assault. He believes that the truth will come out in court and hopes to show that Mayella is not telling the whole truth.
Atticus is trying to get Mayella to confess who raped her.
who raped her (if anyone did.)
READ THE BOOK! ;)
Atticus wants the jury to have a picture of Mayella's life to show the challenging circumstances she faces, which may have influenced her actions. By providing this context, Atticus hopes to humanize Mayella and help the jury understand her perspective, potentially leading to a more empathetic decision.
Both Atticus and Bob Ewell are fathers who play significant roles in the lives of their children. However, they hold starkly different values and morals. Atticus is portrayed as a moral, fair, and just man who upholds integrity, while Bob Ewell is depicted as dishonest, cowardly, and abusive. Both characters are involved in the court case surrounding Tom Robinson, which ultimately reveals their contrasting qualities.
Atticus doesn't seem upset, but rather happy that Bob Ewell challenged him. Atticus said that it was better that Mr. Ewell took out his anger on Atticus. If not he would take out his anger on one of his children, which Atticus didn't want.
Atticus wants to reveal that it is unlikely that Mayella's injuries were caused by Tom Robinson because they were on the right side of her face, suggesting that someone with a left hand was responsible. This challenges the prosecution's assertion that Tom is guilty.
Atticus asks Mr. Bob Ewell to write his name on a piece of paper while he is cross examining him. Mr. Ewell writes his name with his left hand, so he is left handed, which proves that Tom Robinson could not have raped and beaten Ms. Mayella Ewell, because Tom Robinson's left arm is completely crippled from an accident he had long ago. Ms. Mayella Ewell had been beaten on the right side of her body. Atticus shows that it was Bob Ewell who beat Mayella, but due to the racism in Maycomb, Tom Robinson was wrongly convicted as a black man.
He wanted revenge on Atticus and was low enough to go for his kids.
To form a lynch mob, to show that they don't like Tom and want him dead for allegedly raping Mayella Ewell
Jem does not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell's comment because he fears that it might upset Atticus and cause trouble. However, it is not wise to keep such important information from Atticus, as he is their father and can handle the situation appropriately. It is important to communicate openly and honestly with trusted adults when dealing with serious matters.
Mr. Ewell likely didn't call a doctor after Mayella was attacked because he didn't want the authorities involved due to the illegal nature of the situation. Additionally, seeking medical help would have drawn attention to the abuse and potentially implicated him as the attacker.
Mayella Ewell claims she called Tom Robinson into the house to chop up an old chiffarobe (wardrobe) for firewood.
In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout Finch behind the school after the pageant in retaliation for their father Atticus Finch humiliating him in court. Bob Ewell sought revenge on the Finch children because he felt that Atticus had made a fool of him during the trial, and he wanted to hurt them as a form of payback.
Atticus thinks Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell to protect Scout and Jem. He does not want the truth covered up because he believes in justice and honesty, and wants the events to be revealed in court for a fair resolution.