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Is Hank justified for his lifestyle of hiding away and conforming to southern societal norms? 

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Is Hank justified for his lifestyle of hiding away and conforming to southern societal norms? 

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In GSAW it's evident that Maycomb County consists of a kin society where everyone is obligated to follow southern philosophy and abide to societal norms. Although, Jean Louise is ostracized in society due to her experience in New York which allowed her to develop a liberal and feminist mindset. While her significant other Hank does not coincide with Jean Louise beliefs because he abides to Maycombs strict philosophy. Hank attends the citizens council meetings and is racially intolerant because he cannot risk diminishing his reputation due to his family's history. He has a poor connotation to his name, and since childhood he's been considered "white trash" and he is justified to say that he has worked for everything that he has. To uphold his position in society he must be a follower to not be ostracized like he was once was in the past.

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Do you think Atticus really has feelings of racism or is he just conforming to society in old age?

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Do you think Atticus really has feelings of racism or is he just conforming to society in old age?

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I feel like this is Atticus conforming to society as he worked tirelessly to defend Tom Robinson in TKAM. Atticus stayed outside the jail waiting for the lynch mob that was coming for Tom and then fought for an appeal after he believed Tom was wrongfully convicted. Atticus would also explain his motives for attending the city council, which Jean-Louise sees as a Klan meeting, his reasoning may seem flawed, however it is him also protecting African Americans in the south because if they are just thrown into society then they will have to encounter more challenges than a gradual assimilation would. He also mentions that this would lead to African Americans in office possibly and due to the structure of the south African Americans at the time may not have been educated enough for a position in government.

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In Maycomb, do citizens conform because they want to or because they have to?

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In Maycomb, do citizens conform because they want to or because they have to?

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Nobody in today's society truly wants to conform by choice. Maycomb in it's era perhaps was no exception, but this was usual for society in the 50s. Normal American society functioned like a machine

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In the novel “Go Set a Watchman” written by Harper Lee, it is evident to readers that the internal character of Jean Louise Finch (once known as the young Scout Finch) has progressed significantly as she aged. In my opinion, I believe her growth and development as an individual with non-traditional values for the time period is due to her leaving the South in her early adult years and experiencing New York, a place that advocates for a much more liberal approach to society in all facets. I believe there she was surrounded by a variety of diverse groups and less racial intolerance, which is extremely contrary to her hometown Maycomb. When she temporarily returns to the South to visit her family, she feels even more ostracized than she did as a child. At this point in the novel, she discovers that those extremely close to her like her father Atticus, are conforming to the ideologies of segregationists and Klan members. This disillusionment faced by Jean Louise poses a threat to her that could significantly ruin her relationship with the only man she considered to be her moral hero growing up.

Discussion Q1: Has living in New York had an impact of Jean Louise’s opinion of both her family and her roots? What does the big city offer her that Maycomb does not?

In Chapter 16, Jean Louise realizes after being disillusioned by the behavior of her father that her seemingly genuine love interest, Henry, is also not the man she imagined him to be. He was in attendance with Atticus at the citizen’s council meeting. In simpler terms, this “meeting” was more so about glorifying white supremacy than establishing ideas to benefit the town of Maycomb as a whole. After Jean Louise confronts him about being there, he is quick to defend his reasonings behind conforming to Maycomb’s social norms. His response was that considering his reputation in the town, he has to do things that he doesn’t want to do. He lacks the privilege Jean Louise has, being the daughter of a “well-respected” lawyer and makes a point that she has luxuries he does not.

Is Jean Louise right about Henry’s character? Is it fair to label him as a hypocrite?

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How does Jean Louise actions towards the civil rights movement in the time period portray the feelings of other white people? How does this representation help other people in the advocacy of the civil right movement?

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How does Jean Louise actions towards the civil rights movement in the time period portray the feelings of other white people? How does this representation help other people in the advocacy of the civil right movement?

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Jean Louise was a southern privilege born woman who had lived in progressive places and advocated equality. Her desires, however, were not shared by the rest of her family or the people she grew up with. She speaks up, not in a way that would provoke a great impact, but in a way that would be meaningful for herself. Her actions can be compared to other white privilege-born female, Juliette Hampton Morgan. Morgan was a larger scale advocate for equality and her actions reflected so. She also stated, however, that other white people wanted to participate, but were too afraid to. Jean Louise became a source of knowledge and an example for people who wanted to rebel during the Civil Right movement

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Comparing the character of Atticus Finch between TKAM and GSAW, is his view of justice different? how?

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Comparing the character of Atticus Finch between TKAM and GSAW, is his view of justice different? how?

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In GSAW, Harper Lee portrayed Atticus Finch differently than in TKAM. In Harper's earlier novel, to Kill a Mockingbird, the readers notice Atticus as a moral hero from defending a black man with asserting his powerful resistance towards the racism and prejudice. However, some readers got upset, as Jean Louis in the novel, that Atticus Finch is no longer a moral righteous character in young Jean's view

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What were the different reasons Hank and Atticus both felt they needed to conform to society and what did they feel they had to prove in regards to their personal endeavors? 

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What were the different reasons Hank and Atticus both felt they needed to conform to society and what did they feel they had to prove in regards to their personal endeavors? 

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When Jean Louise snuck into the city council meeting and saw Atticus and Hank there, she was undoubtedly upset. She confronted both men, whom are very important to her, and both gave her different reasons for their appearance at the meeting. However Atticus and Hank were in one way or another saying they were there because they had to in order to fit in with the rest of Maycomb. It was seen as essential for two white men, known in society, to be there. This raises the question above.

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In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is the embodiment of all logic and moral character. His character is shifted in the Go Set a Watchman, he is stripped of his prestige and presented as a racist and immoral character. Is Harper Lee attempting to make Atticus the antagonist of the novel, or merely another stepping stone in the development of Jean-Louise?

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Did Harper Lee want the book to be published after To Kill a Mockingbird 

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Did Harper Lee want the book to be published after To Kill a Mockingbird 

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Controversy around wether Go Set a Watchman should have been released due to the contrasting ideas between the two books. This conjured inquiries about Harper Lee’s opinions on wether the book should be published after all. Harper’s publishers decided to release the book after her death and its soeculated the she didn’t intend to release it.

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Throughout the book it can be seen that Henry isn't exactly the strongest-willed person in the book. How can he be compared to Atticus and his diminishing will to act on injustices that he sees?

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Throughout the book it can be seen that Henry isn't exactly the strongest-willed person in the book. How can he be compared to Atticus and his diminishing will to act on injustices that he sees?

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Is it necessary to read both novels to have a better perception of the humanity of Atticus?

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Is it necessary to read both novels to have a better perception of the humanity of Atticus?

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Both novels show different and depths of the same character, Atticus, especially because he is viewed from two different perspectives, one by a child Scout and one by a mature adult Scout. As one reads both novels, a development in character is evident. In the first novel To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus is viewed as a moral hero by Scout, his daughter and the narrator of the book, because he pushes aside racial differences to help a black man. In the second novel, Go Set A Watchman, Atticus is viewed by his daughter as changed as is not the moral, flawless man she remembers, but instead only a hero in the law. Jean Louise says: “‘I remember that rape case you defended, but I missed the point. You love justice, all right. Abstract justice written down item by item on a neat brief. - nothing to do with that black boy, you just like the neat brief.” This shows how she is disappointed about finding out her father was not the man she thought. In real life, people do not always act in a way that can please people and their actions can often be hypocritical and flawed. Humans cannot always be moral heroes, therefore, reading both novels shows a realistic portrayal of Atticus as a human.

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What do the reactions towards Jean Louise's actions and appearances in both novels reveal about the changes in gender expectations and traditional societal roles between the novel(s) and the present day?

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What do the reactions towards Jean Louise's actions and appearances in both novels reveal about the changes in gender expectations and traditional societal roles between the novel(s) and the present day?

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What is the definition of an American Hero? Can Atticus really be considered as an American Hero?

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What is the definition of an American Hero? Can Atticus really be considered as an American Hero?

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Many Americans who have read Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, praise Atticus Finch for defending Tom Robinson, a black man who is being accused for raping a white women, against social injustice and asserting equality. But in the other novel , Go Set a Watchman, old Atticus mostly supports the white community by reasonably stating the negative consequences of government that is running by the black community. He purposefully uses discriminatory language to effectively convince Jean Louis the position where he stands.

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What do you think Jean Louises' motives are to stay true to herself?

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What do you think Jean Louises' motives are to stay true to herself?

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To what extent does privilege blind someone from reality?  

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To what extent does privilege blind someone from reality?  

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The impact and the extent of TKAM in society is pretty obvious, but GSAW has been less fortunate.

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The impact and the extent of TKAM in society is pretty obvious, but GSAW has been less fortunate.

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What impact does GSAW have on today's society and do you think it will ever live up to what TKAM was in time?

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Was Harper Lee competent enough, in regards to her age and mental state, to agree on the release of GSAW, or do you believe she was forced/ coerced? 

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Was Harper Lee competent enough, in regards to her age and mental state, to agree on the release of GSAW, or do you believe she was forced/ coerced? 

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Harper Lee has always been a private person who didn’t enjoy the limelight like some of her peers. Soon after the publication of TKAM, she went into hiding from the media and prefered to keep her life secret. Her older sister Alice Finch acted as her protector and shielded Harper from unwanted attention. However when Lee suffered from a stroke and her mental capacity decreased she became vulnerable. When Alice died, Lee was exposed completely. When the manuscript of GSAW was found by her crew, Harpercollins Publishers  believed it could be a hit and possibly even lied that Lee was fully on board with its publication. Whether this was the case or not, it prompts the question above.

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Did Atticus Finch conform after the trial or was it possible that his racist beliefs were present during the trial and only revealed years later?

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Did Atticus Finch conform after the trial or was it possible that his racist beliefs were present during the trial and only revealed years later?

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I believe he conformed because treating someone as less than and taking their rights away from them, and trying to keep them from living certain places is not moral at all.

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How does the portrayal of Atticus in Go Set A Watchman contradict or tamper his image within To Kill A Mockingbird?

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How does the portrayal of Atticus in Go Set A Watchman contradict or tamper his image within To Kill A Mockingbird?

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On page 285 Aunt Alexandra shows a more sensitive side of herself. Contrary to the beginning of the book where Alexandra says Jean Louise is not a lady, she finally tells her that is a lady, what led to her change in view of Jean Louise?

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On page 285 Aunt Alexandra shows a more sensitive side of herself. Contrary to the beginning of the book where Alexandra says Jean Louise is not a lady, she finally tells her that is a lady, what led to her change in view of Jean Louise?

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Jean Louise always speaks her mind and told her Aunt Alexandra what she thought about her without holding back. She knows how to handle her own issues and doesn't need a man (Henry) in her life to help her. After hearing Atticus' POV she still stuck to her beliefs and although Atticus was her hero from childhood she didn't give in to the words he was saying. I think Aunt Alexandra recognized this and told her that she is a lady because she knows how to her handle herself.

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Why did Atticus change his views on people of color?

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Why did Atticus change his views on people of color?

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I believe that Atticus changed his views because of his environment. The people around him, such as Hank, influenced him to the point of where he opposes his thoughts in To Kill a Mockingbird. As time passed Atticus became more cynical and started to generalize people who oppose the general consensus. This is seen when Atticus talks to Jean-Louise with a supercilious attitude. Jean-Louise wants to explain what Atticus is doing is wrong, however, Atticus doesn’t listen.

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Since TKAM is banned in some schools, does this mean that GSAW should be to?

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Since TKAM is banned in some schools, does this mean that GSAW should be to?

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I believe that the banning of TKAM is wrong as it creates racial tension due to the fact that some people cannot read this book and see other view points. With that said the banning of GSAW would follow the same path in creating a divide in society. These two books can both

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After reading GSAW, do you think Atticus was still a moral hero in TKAM, or is he just a legal hero in both?

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After reading GSAW, do you think Atticus was still a moral hero in TKAM, or is he just a legal hero in both?

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In my opinion, he is still a moral hero in TKAM. In the book TKAM, Atticus went out of his way to protect an African-American man who he believed was wrongly accused of rape. Even though in GSAW Atticus explained that it was only for the legal issues, I still think he was a moral hero in TKAM. The circumstances of which GSAW came out

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Aunt Alexandra in the beginning of the book (pg. 34-35) has always wanted Jean Louise to get tied down but when she brings up being married to Hank, why did she act the way she did? 

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Aunt Alexandra in the beginning of the book (pg. 34-35) has always wanted Jean Louise to get tied down but when she brings up being married to Hank, why did she act the way she did? 

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In Macomb, there are certain roles in society and everyone has their own certain disposition that their judged by. In pages 34 and 35 Aunt Alexandra has a condescending tone when Jean Louise brought up marriage with Hank/ Henry because he has "baggage" or also known as a long line of drinking in his family. When Jean Louise refutes her aunt she says something along the lines, "everyone in maycomb has a drinking problem." Alexandra says proudly and very snobby, "Not the Finch's." This demonstrates that Aunt Alexandra believes that the Finch family have no problems and are the scrolling marquee of a perfect family. I believe that she acts this way due to her sense of superiority in the county that she lives in.

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Do you think Harper Lee wanted her father to be perceived as the villain in Go Set A Watchman?

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Do you think Harper Lee wanted her father to be perceived as the villain in Go Set A Watchman?

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Did Atticus always have racist views or did they develop since the end of TKAM.

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Did Atticus always have racist views or did they develop since the end of TKAM.

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Atticus is revealed in GSAW to have attended Klan meetings and displaying somewhat vocal  but
negative opinions towards the rights of African Americans.

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Since Go Set a Watchman was written first, and it was the direct precursor to To Kill a Mockingbird, and it follows the same characters and setting as TKAM, and it was still written by Harper Lee. So it shouldn't matter the circumstances if it was still a story that she intended to have publish, it is still part of the same story, and it would have been even if it was never published.

Do you think that the circumstances of the novel's publication really matter?

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What caused Atticus' change of heart from Mockingbird to Watchman in regard to his moral compass? 

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What caused Atticus' change of heart from Mockingbird to Watchman in regard to his moral compass? 

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Go Set A Watchman is known as the original version of To Kill A Mockingbird. Many prototypes of known characters were shown within the initial draft, along with some events that are different from what happened in Mockingbird. The trial of Tom Robinson, though not discussed heavily or even a plot point in Watchman like Mockingbird, plays an important part as to why Atticus has his current views in Watchman. It's likely Harper Lee intended Atticus to be a racist before he was made into the moral figure he is in Mockingbird, given Harper Lee had a quite a lot to change about her original draft. The outcome of the trial plays a part too in Atticus' change of heart, and is likely a result of Lee's additions. In Watchman, Tom Robinson was freed from trial, indicating to Atticus there was nothing wrong with society at the moment, and that he had no need to fight any longer, to the point he ended up assimilating to Maycomb's racist view over time. However in Mockingbird, the sentencing and death of Tom Robinson, and Atticus seeing prejudice firsthand, even to the point his own kids became victims of circumstance, it was clear he had to keep fighting for justice, whether it be for blacks, peace in society, or to protect his children or children like them.

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Why do you think Atticus' moral views in To Kill A Mockingbird differ from his legal views in Go Set A Watchman? 

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Why do you think Atticus' moral views in To Kill A Mockingbird differ from his legal views in Go Set A Watchman? 

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In TKAM Atticus is determined to gain justice for Tom Robinson because he did not rape that girl. He loses the case, but in GSAW Atticus gets an acquittal for Tom Robinson. Atticus believes that black people can't go back into society because they are already backwards. In GSAW he is depicted as more of a legal hero however, in TKAM he is more of a moral hero. His argument with Jean Louise reveals a side of himself that was not shown in TKAM.