What was the importance of mayellas bruises?

In the novel _To Kill a Mocking Bird_, the importance of Mayella's bruises is that they are the primary piece of evidence used by the prosecution to prove that Tom Robinson raped and beat her. The bruises on her face and neck are presented as evidence that Tom used violence against her, and the prosecution argues that this violence is proof of his guilt. However, Mayella's bruises are also important because they raise questions about the nature of her relationship with Tom and about the motives behind her accusation. It is unclear whether the bruises were caused by Tom or if they were self-inflicted, and the prosecution's focus on them obscures the larger issues of race, class, and power that are at the heart of the case.