Reflections of Harper Lee’s Life in To Kill a Mockingbird
Reflections of Harper Lee’s Life in To Kill a Mockingbird
The life of Harper Lee is strongly reflected in her work. This can be seen in the example of a setting that implies a southern city in which people treat Black people with prejudice and racism. Racial tensions and social hierarchy became the central motifs of the book, which were conveyed clearly enough because Lee could see all these elements in her childhood (Sastrawijaya, 2021). A significant aspect of Lee’s personality in her book is the protagonist, Jean Louise, who goes a long way to realizing that mistreatment of people is happening everywhere and that it shouldn’t be. The father figure became another link as Atticus Finch’s character and Harper Lee’s father were in the same business.
The connection between the novel of the writer and her life can be traced to the fact that, according to the plot of the work, a black man was accused of raping a white woman. At the same time, all people initially treat him with prejudice and think that he is guilty. This case echoes the Scottsboro Boys of the 1930 case in which nine black teenagers were arrested on suspicion of rape (Asha & Rahman, 2022).
At the same time, the court completely violated the course of the case, and the jury did not listen to the conclusion of the doctor, who, having examined the girls, decided that there was no rape. Because of the unfair trial and constant proceedings after the acquittal, the lives of nine innocent people were destroyed. These events took place when Li was a child, however, she could learn about the case later due to its great resonance. The spread of racial prejudice in the judicial system she thereon displayed in her work.
The author’s study of the nature of the society in which she lived and in which she grew up resulted in what she later describes in her book. Thus, the creation of one of the main characters of her book – Atticus Finch, stemmed from the image of her father, who worked as a lawyer and he had to protect blacks (Asha & Rahman, 2022). In addition, Lee’s society during her childhood is evident in the way she later described the neighborhood in her book. The main character Jean Louise is a reflection of how the author interacted with her environment and did not accept the social order of that time. The mind and curiosity of the main character of the book were projected from the behavior that provoked the moral growth of the author, thus highlighting the vices of society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the writing of “To Kill a Mockingbird” came at a time when social issues of equality and the struggle for black rights were gaining momentum. In this regard, society resonated with Lee’s creation by interpreting it as a reality in which many people could not receive equal treatment, not only in court but also in everyday life. The life and childhood of Harper Lee directly influenced the way she later displayed her emotions and experiences. The father’s profession played a crucial role in setting the book’s plot, as Leigh created Atticus as a figure who stands up for justice. Principles and ethics are so much the same values that Harper Lee has carried over from her life into the book.