Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

jchanic

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2006
3,164
6,097
79
Cleveland Ohio
I finished it a few days ago. I have to say I was rather disappointed in the book itself. The writing could have used a good editor. The characters were not as "fleshed out" as those in Mockingbird, and it read as an early draft of the novel.

As far as the story goes, at first, I had some trouble separating it from Mockingbird, but I decided to keep them separate in my head, which helped a lot.

The depiction of Atticus as a racist bigot just did not "square up" with his portrayal in Mockingbird. This was a major disappointment to me, as was the depictions of the townspeople themselves. I gave my copy to my (half-black) 18-year-old grandson because he really wanted to read it. I hope I didn't make a mistake there. Emotionally, he's fairly young and impressionable.

John
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
...I've ordered it, and having come to read and enjoy TKAM-as late in life as I did...I look forward to re-visiting the environs and seeing the "growing up" of characters and locale...I don't know that we will ever know for certain if Harper were coerced, and I pray not-but who cares if iconic characters aren't seen in the best light sometimes? We as humans are known to mature sometimes, I know my views on minorities and alternate lifestyles have changed dramatically as I've gotten older-AND for the better...
 

goathunter

Well-Known Member
May 9, 2008
310
495
I finished it a few days ago. I have to say I was rather disappointed in the book itself. The writing could have used a good editor. The characters were not as "fleshed out" as those in Mockingbird, and it read as an early draft of the novel.

Which is, of course, exactly what it was: the first draft of a book from an author whose editor got her to change her focus to produce To Kill a Mockingbird.

Hunter
 

PatInTheHat

GOOBER MEMBER
Dec 19, 2007
13,362
12,037
63
Lair of the Great Kentucky Nightcrawler
Which is, of course, exactly what it was: the first draft of a book from an author whose editor got her to change her focus to produce To Kill a Mockingbird.

Hunter
Yeah and my understanding from what I've been able to read, is that was to focus mainly on Scout as a young girl growing up in her world, and as she saw it whilst doin' it.

I don't know what the hub-bub about Aticus is about, guess it's all the years we saw him as perfect, but come on, story's stories and characters change, if they didn't we wouldn't read 'em, they'd all become Cinderella, both of 'em(*):rolleyes:...*semi obscure reference alert*
Besides, can't we give him a, 'even if he wasn't perfect he still was capable of doing the right thing by doing his job and respecting the law, kudos and props for that', bump:thumbs_up:?
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
6,946
25,119
65
dublin ireland
I just finished Go Set a Watchman and I have to say I was disappointed. You can tell that part of it was from the earlier manuscript of TKAM. Scout seems to me, hysterical and very immature for all that she has grown and lives away from Maycomb. I found that Atticus, while not a racist in my opinion is just a man of his time. One law for everyone, but only as liberal as that. There was way too much of the past. I know it was used to illustrate the contrast between then and now, but was overdone, IMO. I'm glad I got a loan of it.
 

CoriSCapnSkip

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2015
1,735
7,765
61
The companion book/sequel of To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman, has Jean Louise "Scout" Finch visiting her father Atticus some twenty years after the Mockingbird story events. To the dismay of a majority of readers, Atticus seems to be a cantankerous old grouch ranting against Civil Rights and being far less than admirable and generally unpleasant. I am not sure I have the stomach to read the book, but wish to propose a few alternatives:

1. Dallas ripoff--Scout wakes up to find it was all a terrible dream; Atticus is not like that at all and they live happily ever after.

2. Alfred Hitchcock/Twilight Zone episode (tones of Coraline, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter series): the real Atticus has been swapped with an evil replacement. Scout discovers the switch and must find and free the real Atticus and stop the replacement without letting evil Atticus know lest he stop her. Or, The Picture of Dorian Gray ripoff: in the attic is a portrait of Atticus as idealistic and virtuous and Scout must find a way to bring the living Atticus to match the portrait without accidentally destroying the real Atticus.

3. Quantum Leap/Sliders ripoff: Scout finds herself in an alternate reality. Her neighbor Miss Maudie has paved her garden, put up a parking lot, and become a hollering holy roller, Bible-thumping fundamentalist fanatic who inspires people to run at the sight of her. Boo Radley is an obnoxious standup comic, with Dill as his shady hustling manager. The Ewells are a decadent rich dynasty such as the Ewings on Dallas, running the county like Mr. Potter's version of Bedford Falls. They have ousted the honest sheriff, placed one of their corrupt spawn in his stead, and hold the citizens in an iron grip. Atticus is as described in Go Set a Watchman. African-American citizens are still poorly treated because what the heck, some things never change. Scout must traverse from one reality to another, hoping each will be the ideal one, and find a way to make it stay.

(Spoiler:



Real heartbreak could ensue if Jem is alive in one of the realities, but it proves not to be the right one and Scout must leave him.



(Spoiler)

4. The Exorcist ripoff--Atticus is a genuinely nice guy all right, he is simply possessed by the devil and must be released.

5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ripoff--both versions of Atticus are correct.

Others? :eyebrow:
 

MadamMack

M e m b e r
Apr 11, 2006
17,958
45,138
UnParked, UnParked U.S.A.
11988731_938111316277976_6764584507206864366_n.jpg
 

RandallFlagg19

Well-Known Member
May 5, 2014
809
6,209
38
I have just finished “Go set a Watchman” After previously right before reading “To Kill a Mocking Bird”

Re used text/ manuscript

Yes in part one, there were several paragraphs quoted directly from To Kill a mocking bird, however these paragraph served the same purpose they did in the second book as the first book, which was to give back story, on characters and events that would help the main story move forward; some people may be disappointed that there was a lack a creativity, but think the re used text functioned effetely for its purpose.

Atticus

Atticus is portrayed as a racist Bigot, this shocking change in character is a pivotal aspect of the story line, it is just as shocking for Jean Louise Scout to see Atticus this way as it is for the reader, the story revolves around Jean Louise Scout coming to resolution about if Atticus is a racist Bigot and drastically not the person she believed him to be.

I do not believe Atticus to be a racist Bigot. In the early sections of the book Jean Louise Scout discovers her father introducing a bigot zealot (Mr. O’ Hanlon) to the county council; Jean Louise Scout interprets this introduction as representation that Atticus shares the same racist bigot views as Mr. O’ Hanlon. It is later revealed by Atticus that he does not agree with Mr. O Hanlon racist bigot views, but represented Mr. O Hanlon with the same lawyer’s indifference as when he defended Tom Robinson in “To Kill A Mocking Bird”; he defends Mr. Hanlon’s constitutional right to freedom of Speech, Even if he (Atticus) doesn’t personally agree with what Mr. O’Hanlon gives speeches about.

Atticus admits he does not personally support the NAACP and even personally opposes the organization; but he also does not personally support and opposes the Kl Klux Klan. Both the NAACP and the KKK are political organizations with racist agendas. Atticus personally opposes these political organizations with racist agendas, but as a lawyer will legally defend their right to free speech; but not defend their criminal activity.

In conclusion, the theme of “Go set a Watch Man” and “To Kill A mockingbird, revolve around Atticus Finch integrity as a lawyer, and how society struggles with racial inequality.
 

PatInTheHat

GOOBER MEMBER
Dec 19, 2007
13,362
12,037
63
Lair of the Great Kentucky Nightcrawler
I have just finished “Go set a Watchman” After previously right before reading “To Kill a Mocking Bird”

Re used text/ manuscript

Yes in part one, there were several paragraphs quoted directly from To Kill a mocking bird, however these paragraph served the same purpose they did in the second book as the first book, which was to give back story, on characters and events that would help the main story move forward; some people may be disappointed that there was a lack a creativity, but think the re used text functioned effetely for its purpose.

Atticus

Atticus is portrayed as a racist Bigot, this shocking change in character is a pivotal aspect of the story line, it is just as shocking for Jean Louise Scout to see Atticus this way as it is for the reader, the story revolves around Jean Louise Scout coming to resolution about if Atticus is a racist Bigot and drastically not the person she believed him to be.

I do not believe Atticus to be a racist Bigot. In the early sections of the book Jean Louise Scout discovers her father introducing a bigot zealot (Mr. O’ Hanlon) to the county council; Jean Louise Scout interprets this introduction as representation that Atticus shares the same racist bigot views as Mr. O’ Hanlon. It is later revealed by Atticus that he does not agree with Mr. O Hanlon racist bigot views, but represented Mr. O Hanlon with the same lawyer’s indifference as when he defended Tom Robinson in “To Kill A Mocking Bird”; he defends Mr. Hanlon’s constitutional right to freedom of Speech, Even if he (Atticus) doesn’t personally agree with what Mr. O’Hanlon gives speeches about.

Atticus admits he does not personally support the NAACP and even personally opposes the organization; but he also does not personally support and opposes the Kl Klux Klan. Both the NAACP and the KKK are political organizations with racist agendas. Atticus personally opposes these political organizations with racist agendas, but as a lawyer will legally defend their right to free speech; but not defend their criminal activity.

In conclusion, the theme of “Go set a Watch Man” and “To Kill A mockingbird, revolve around Atticus Finch integrity as a lawyer, and how society struggles with racial inequality.
That sure wasn't a spoiler to me, now I can't wait to read it even harder:smile2:
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
...I finished the novel some time ago, and enjoyed it...yes, it was uneven and yes, it could have been "tightened up"-but overall?....I thought it capsulized in a rather genteel fashion, the confusion and rancor of the times....
 
  • Like
Reactions: RandallFlagg19

CoriSCapnSkip

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2015
1,735
7,765
61
Finished my reread of To Kill a Mockingbird on Halloween as being the perfect time as the book ends on Halloween.

At breakfast this morning, a friend and I were recalling how we served as jury members on the case of a very nice man who suffered serious injuries for which he was not at fault. No one disputed this part (interestingly, we remembered certain details a bit different, but agreed the man was savaged by a large and angry bovine while alone). His lawyers totally botched the handling of the case, to the point that they failed to make their case, and we were forced to decide to award him nothing, over which we all felt bad and my friend even suffered nightmares for days. I remember a lady saying, "I feel so awful I'm not even going to look at him when we walk in," and possibly even holding up a hand next to her face. Others looked from the corner of their eye, but no one looked at him directly. I quoted her the following passage from To Kill a Mockingbird (not word-for-word, but close enough):

"I saw something only a lawyer's child could be expected to see, could be expected to watch for, and it was like watching Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty. A jury never looks at a defendant it has convicted, and when this jury came in, not one of them looked at Tom Robinson."

My friend then told me she was just about to reread To Kill a Mockingbird, but changed her mind when she heard the sequel disclosed that Atticus was a racist! Wow, now that is hardcore, refusing to read the original because the sequel blew it! I told her I heard it was so bad that people all over the country named Atticus were legally changing their names! We both remembered a young man in our town named Atticus (about the age of Prince William, so do the math on how old) but I don't know what he's up to now or whether he considered changing his name!
 

CoriSCapnSkip

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2015
1,735
7,765
61
This is a no win situation. The original book has become so iconic along with the movie that it could never live up to those expectations. That's likely the reason Lee never published another book. Similar to Salinger after Catcher in the Rye. They couldn't compete with themselves. Publishers have no such qualms about cashing in on their reputations however. I'll probably still read it though out of curiosity. It may not be as bad as the doomsayers indicate.

I have not read it and am unlikely to, but repeated some of the buzz to a friend from Yorkshire who shared one of their wise sayings, "There's nowt good'll come of this."
 

CoriSCapnSkip

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2015
1,735
7,765
61
Hey, just saw the film of To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time since reading the book for the second time. It was presented on TCM as part of a series of films of the work of Southern writers, introduced by Robert Osborne and John Grisham, who went into both the good and bad points of Go Set a Watchman. The book of Dandelion Wine came out three years before To Kill a Mockingbird and still no film!
 

Neil W

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2008
1,203
2,592
Isle of Wight UK
Mockingbird is a MUCH better book than Watchman. For a start, it has a plot and Watchman really doesn't. It is conspicuously unedited with the feel of a first draft, desperately in need of rewrites, and with patches of really clumsy writing.

But it is well worth reading, and not just because of the light it shines on Mockingbird (although that is a really important reason to be grateful for its existence, like Da Vinci's sketches etc.). It is full of passion, often very funny, sometimes highly emotional, there are times when the precision of language is breathtaking, and it is a pleasure to get to spend a little more time with these people after all these years.