Who Is Harper Lee's Personality In To Kill A Mockingbird

The true personality of Harper Lee in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee gives way to look at the racism and sexism that was prominent in the 1930s as the readers watch Scout, Jem, and Dill deal with the harshness and cruelty of the people they know to others who are black and different. As they get older they realise that not everything is as black and white, as well as the worst kind of monsters are the ones that are hidden in plain sight.As this being the dominant theme of the story itself it also shows traces of the author through the detail and descriptions in the novel. Which presents herself purposely, as one who is passionate about the injustices in the book in the most part, unconsciously

As a result, Lee is portrayed as nostalgic about her childhood in general by living vicariously through Scout's older narrative in the novel. Harper Lee started off with older Scout looking back as the cliffhanger at the end of the novel of Jem's arm being broken as” when enough years gone by to enable us to look back at[ the events of the novel they] sometimes discussed the events leading up to his accident”(9), seemingly looking fondly and reflective at an incident that would have otherwise been traumatic to others. The sense of distance shown in the text indicates that she feels sentimental toward looking back at her childhood but hints of bitterness when reflecting on the Tom Robinson trial in Scout's perspective. On the other hand when Scout gets caught overhearing Atticus and her Uncle Jack talking about what Jem and she would have to go through due to the Tom Robinson trial was important. So important that Scout comments how she “never figured out Atticus knew [she] was listening” but only realizing that it “wasn't until late many years later [she realizes that] Atticus [wanted Scout] to hear every word he said”(97). Lee, through Scout felt that the exchange of words between the two older men was significant as Atticus was subtly giving Scout an important life lesson when talking to her Uncle Jack. The sense of nostalgia was not one of reminiscing on the good old days but more of a sense of appreciation towards Atticus. This type of nostalgia hints towards the figures in Lee's personal life that may suggest that from Lee's personal experience the most subtle lessons go the farthest compared to the most obvious. This contrasts to the absence of self intersection of the narrative at the end of the