It is my understanding that Harper Lee, author of
To Kill a Mockingbird, was familiar with the law because her father
was a lawyer, among other careers. Just like Atticus, Lee's father defended two men and
lost the case, seeing both men hanged. The difference is that A.C. Lee's clients were
black, while Atticus' clients were white. Both Atticus and Lee's father changed the type
of law they practiced: A.C. Lee turned to title law, and similarly, Atticus moved away
from practicing criminal law—in the novel he is praised as being a genius at writing
air-tight wills.
Atticus' character is based upon Harper
Lee's father as well. Lee also attended law school, but left six months before earning a
degree. Lee's mother's name was Frances Cunningham Finch Lee. We can see where some
names in the novel—"Finch" and "Cunningham"— came
from.
Some sources say that the character of Scout is based
on Lee's own childhood, while other sources report that Lee for many years denied that
this was true. It would seem that more of Lee's childhood years are included that she
admits, as childhood friends describe Lee as a "a rough 'n' tough tomboy", an accurate
description of Scout as well. Lee was also involved in fights on the playground. Scout's
boredom with school coincides with Lee's similar experience. We might also assume that
Lee's protection of the reclusive Boo Radley by Heck Tate may well come from Lee's own
need to remain far from the public eye. It has also been suggested that the character of
Dill was based upon Lee's longtime friend and author, Truman
Capote.
These are the elements of Harper Lee's life that
seem to have impacted To Kill a
Mockingbird.
Additional
Source:
http://www.neabigread.org/books/mockingbird/mockingbird04.php
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