Harper Lee Revisited

Readers of Harper Lee's new novel, Go Set a Watchman, either love it or hate it. Devoted fans of her classic To Kill a Mockingbird, are devastated to learn Atticus Finch exhibits racism in the second novel.

Good fiction writing presents a protagonist who displays both good and bad traits. They are not all good or all bad, but a realistic combination--sort of like us. Likewise, the antagonist (the bad guy) is not all bad but also has some redeeming qualities. This makes for good writing and interesting reading.

I believe so many readers dislike Go Set a Watchman because they can't handle Atticus Finch being less than perfect. In To Kill a Mockingbird, everything he did was right. Who has a father like that? No one can match up, other than Gregory Peck in the movie. And that was acting, folks.

In this second novel, Lee reveals Atticus' humanity and it disturbs us. He's a hero with flaws.

I understand the differing reactions:

• On one hand, we're disappointed. That always happens when a person on a pedestal cracks.
• But, reality is reality. Perhaps we ordinary people can relate better to a character when we glimpse both the positive and negative traits of their personalities.

Whatever you feel about Watchman, we can agree on two things:

1. Harper Lee is a gifted writer and observer of the Southern culture.
2. The message of To Kill a Mockingbird speaks to today's race issues, just as it did in 1960.

I suspect English teachers are jumping on the opportunity to teach both of these novels in parallel. Fantastic discussions would result.

(See the July 23rd blog post for my first review of Go Set a Watchman.)