What is Mayella really like?

Mayella Ewell

The oldest of the many Ewell children, at age nineteen. She lives a miserable and lonely existence, despised by whites and prohibited from befriending blacks. Mayella is frightened and confused...... she wants companionship. Her life has been filled with taking care of her siblings and following her father's orders. She's a sad girl. Unfortunately, she breaks a social taboo by trying to seduce Tom in order to get some kind of attention, and then reacts with cowardice by accusing him of rape and perjuring against him in court.