ATTICUS FINCH
Posted on 07/14/2015 11:25:50 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In American letters and mythology, there are few characters as noble as Atticus Finch. The gentleman, lawyer, and single father from Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” has been the very model of masculine decency for decades. Whether through the dulcet delivery of the classic novel or the buttoned-up dignity of Gregory Peck’s movie portrayal, Atticus has been loved as few figures of fiction have.
As reviews trickle out for Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” written before, but taking place after, her masterpiece, one bit of news has dominated: Atticus Finch is a racist. Had he been a historical figure, we would say Atticus Finch was a racist. But as a fictional character, he is a racist, and it is up to us to decide what that means.
The Wall Street Journal review of Lee’s new book suggests many people will feel cheated by the revelation of Atticus’s racist attitudes. Perhaps this is true. But do we have any reason to feel cheated or betrayed? Did the Atticus Finch of “To Kill A Mockingbird” lead us to be believe that he saw the races as equal? In fact, there is nothing in the twentieth century’s seminal novel on race from the white perspective to lead us to any such belief.
In the 1930s, Everyone Was Racist
Atticus Finch was an adult, white male in the 1930s deep South. For him to have believed that blacks and whites were equals would have flown not only in the face of his upbringing but in the face of science. Before the early twentieth century biologist Charles Davenport and his followers’ views of eugenics became labelled “scientific racism,” they were simply labelled “science.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thefederalist.com ...
MY QUESTION:
WAS THE "SCIENCE" CONSIDERED "SETTLED" THEN?
"There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people to the idea of indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black races ... A separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation, but as an immediate separation is impossible, the next best thing is to keep them apart where they are not already together. If white and black people never get together in Kansas, they will never mix blood in Kansas ..."
"In the language of Mr. Jefferson, uttered many years ago, "It is still in our power to direct the process of emancipation, and deportation, peaceably, and in such slow degrees, as that the evil will wear off insensibly; and in their places be, pari passu [on an equal basis], filled up by free white laborers."
"Our republican system was meant for a homogeneous people. As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man."
~Abraham Lincoln
He did chase a WHITE whale.
And he was a dog shooter.
People miss that part.
Atticus could kill to defend his family and town against a mad dog.
People just conveniently forget that.
What was the author saying when she put this in the story?
Bump.
Peck considered running against Reagan in his re-election bid for governor of California in 1970. Liberal.
She was indicating that Atticus was a real man and not a poofter. It was meant to innoculate the character's views on equality from being degenerate, or viewed as an aberration.
TKaM was some mighty fine liberal propaganda. Not that the races shouldn't be treated equally and with dignity, but as a libel against southern culture. All of the institutions, save for the lone hero, were evil, turning everything upside down. The only other white male that did right was the weirdo and recluse Boo Radley.
Harper Lee is a big phony. TKAM was actually written by Truman Capote, who took pity on his feeble-minded cousin and wanted to provide her with an income for life.
I said it - Lincoln is on the purge list.
Disagree with your analysis as Lee helped Truman write “In Cold Blood”.
Now what I have been thinking about is the possibility that ,if this new book is legitimate, is Truman helped write that one and may outlined the original character of Atticus Finch given the thinking and feelings of 1930’s Alabama.
Guess we will never know the truth, since Capote is dead, and Ms. Lee’s handlers will never let her be interviewed.
Harper Lee is a southern lady - before anything else. She is old school.
Of course.
But in the story, Atticus kills a dog. A dog is “Mans Best Friend”.
Why not some other danger?
Much ado about nothing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.