Answer: In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Mayella Ewell is a young woman who accuses Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping her. During the trial, Atticus Finch, the lawyer defending Tom, cross-examines Mayella, and tries to establish the truth of what happened on the day of the alleged assault.
Mayella is a member of the Ewell family, which is widely regarded as the lowest and poorest class of people in Maycomb County. She is uneducated and has had a difficult life, living in squalor and abuse. When Atticus questions her on the witness stand, he treats her with respect and politeness, which is something she is not used to.
However, when Atticus asks her a series of questions designed to establish the truth of what happened, Mayella becomes confused and emotional, and at one point accuses Atticus of making fun of her. This is likely because Mayella is unused to being treated with respect, and she interprets Atticus's probing and questioning as an attempt to humiliate or belittle her.
Additionally, Mayella may have felt threatened by Atticus's questioning, as it exposed her lies and inconsistencies in her testimony. By accusing Atticus of making fun of her, she may have been trying to deflect attention away from her own uncomfortable situation and regain some measure of control over the proceedings.
Step-by-step explanation: