Atticus Finch Change Essay

1. Why did Harper Lee's perspective on Atticus Finch change? How does this relate to To Kill A Mockingbird?

2. What was the significance of having Jem die? Does this reflect on anything else in the book?

3. Why would Atticus volunteer to represent a colored man in To Kill A Mockingbird when he doesn't believe in equality?

4. Are some of these racial issues still present today?

5. What do you think will happen to Scout at the end of the book, will she campaign for civil rights?

2. Quotes

1. "I just don't like my world disturbed without some warning" (Lee 75). Jem Louise says this to Henry after finding out about Atticus's racial perspective and realizes how much everything has changed. She is upset about the how Atticus hid this secret from

her and she had no warning to what was coming. This was a huge change/discovery for Jem Louise to see her childhood role model changing.
2.

"I especially liked the part where the Negroes bless their hearts, couldn't help being inferior to the white race because their skulls are thicker and their brain pans shallower so we must be very kind to them and not let them do anything to hurt themselves and keep them in their places" (Lee 102). This quote is said by Jem Louise to Atticus after finding the racist pamphlet in his office. She is disgusted by his beliefs and is shocked how much he has changed. This quote represents the whole book due to two different views on racial segregation and how blacks didn't have a say in life.

3. "She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father" ( Lee 117). All of Jem Louise's life she has looked up to Atticus as her role model respecting all his decisions and learning her life lessons from him. Now that she knows about Atticus's racial beliefs everything seems like it is falling apart.

4. "I was taught to never take advantages of anyone who was less fortunate than myself, whether he be less fortunate in brains, wealth, or social position, it meant anybody, not just negroes" ( Lee 170). This quote is said by Jem Louise and she is saying the morals she was learned. This relates back to To Kill A Mockingbird and what morals Jem Louise thought she was

taught.
5. "The South's in its last agonizing birth pain. It's bringing forth something new and I'm not sure I like it, but I won't be here to see it. You will" (Lee 200). Uncle Jack says this to demonstrate the change in the South through Civil Rights. This overall connects to the moral of the book of change because the south is starting to reform into a new accepting society of equality.
3. Connections
1. I can connect this book to my US History class last year because we learned about slavery and the racial segregation. I can connect it because we learned about how even after the civil war when all the slaves were freed, they still weren't seen as equals. To Set A Watchman demonstrates the Jim Crow laws which were set to keep the white superiority over the blacks.
2. I can also relate this to today's problem of equality of same sex marriage. The society today isn't always accepting and for gays and lesbians to be seen as equals has been a long road for them just like it was for blacks. Society wasn't accepting of either problem and didn't allow them equal rights because of their skin color of who they loved. This was the cause of long equality fights.
3.Lastly, I can relate this to the movie Blind Side because a women takes in a poor black boy as her own even though society doesn't agree with this but she believes it is her Christian duty. I can relate this to Go Set A Watchman because blacks aren't seen as equals that belong in the same society and also Mrs. Tuohy and Jem Louise share the same morals.
4. After reading Go Set A Watchman, the moral of the story that will stick with me is about acceptance. Jean Louise and her father, Atticus, had different perspectives on how blacks in America should be treated. But, by the end of the story she learned she won't always agree with other people's perspectives on life and she should overlook their differences to accept them.

5. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I read To Kill A MockingBird freshmen year and I really enjoyed it. Go Set A Watchman lived up to the expectations and I would highly recommend it. I liked how it was a sequel and showed the changes in all the characters years later and all the plot twists such as Atticus being apart of the KKK. This made me keep wanting to read more. I also enjoyed the overall theme of the book about racial segregation and acceptance. This was a very powerful sequel and I loved it!