Hello Friends,
America was abuzz when it learned that Harper Lee was releasing a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird that had been collecting dust for years. Even those who are not avid readers know something about To Kill a Mockingbird. It is a staple in high school English classes as Atticus Finch has become a hero to all. Why then, when Go Set a Watchman (one of our July picks) was released, was everyone completely crushed?
In Go Set a Watchman, set years after the first book, Atticus’ near perfect character is revealed to have weaknesses. Rather than take this in stride, most readers rejected the book and cried “racist.” The general sentiment on social media seemed to be, “How dare Harper Lee do this to us! Atticus is my hero! I refuse to acknowledge the existence of this book!” Extreme. I know. But is the outrage justified?
I would argue that it’s not justified for two reasons:
First, Atticus is a product of his time. Yes, he seems to be far more advanced ideologically than his neighbors, but does that make him perfect? Is there a perfect character? No! How can there be? Fiction reflects life and worldviews and this is a fallen world. I really enjoyed a review in the Boston Globe by Joni Rodgers. She asks, “Is it not possible for people to cringe at the racist legacy clearly imprinted on him and still give him credit for a giant leap forward in ideology?” Atticus’ father fought in the Civil War. He grew up and practiced law in the deep South. It is absurd to assume that Atticus’ worldview was not influenced by the culture he was immersed in.
Second, America does not own Atticus. Harper Lee owns Atticus. He is a product of her pen and her word is law. Readers do not own their characters (as much as we like to think we do), authors own them. Fan-fiction is a fun, interesting genre, but it’s FAN-fiction. It’s not cannon. In July, Vulture ran a great piece by Adam Sternbergh about this topic. They suggest that “the new version of Atticus Finch creates a more interesting, more expansive, if less palatable version of that character — and that this challenges us, the readers, to not simply refuse the new version but to thoughtfully reconsider the old one.” I am inclined to agree.
Go Set a Watchman is a challenging book. It’s certainly not the masterpiece that is To Kill a Mockingbird, but I think it has value. The story is not so much about Atticus, but about Scout. Scout, like the reader, has grown up to believe that Atticus is perfect, god-like. As an adult, Scout faces a harsh reality: her father is not a perfect man.
That may seem sad, but isn’t that reality? No matter how much we absolutize a relative, artist, celebrity, politician, or church leader, at the end of the day, no one is perfect. Idols topple. But there is beauty in imperfection. Atticus is an important character and an older-Atticus in Go Set a Watchman does not make him any less significant.
I urge everyone to read this book. Complex characters make books relevant and worthwhile.
Live, Love, Learn,
Candice & The Write Teacher(s)