The U.S. shocked by Harper Lee`s new novel `Go Set a Watchman`

The U.S. shocked by Harper Lee`s new novel `Go Set a Watchman`. July. 14, 2015 07:30. confetti@donga.com.

The U.S. society is in a shock over Harper Lee`s novel "Go Set a Watchman," a sequel to "To Kill a Mockingbird," that will be published globally Tuesday (U.S. time). According to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Atticus Finch who was described as righteous lawyer and a conscientious watchman in "To Kill a Mockingbird," returns as a racist overwhelmed with prejudice in the sequel. "To Kill a Mockingbird," was made into a movie in 1962 and received Academy Awards where actor Gregory Peck who played Atticus role was depicted in an immortal image.

Harper finished "Go Set a Watchman" two years before he wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird." Its story is set 20 years after the story of "To Kill a Mockingbird." A six years old tomboyish Jean Louise Finch (Scout) who had lived in New York in "To Kill a Mockingbird" turns to a mid-20s woman who returned to hometown Maycomb in Alabama in the sequel. There she finds her father and her hero Atticus who is 70 years old turned into a racist. He is a member of white supremacy group KKK to oppose to the abolition of racist system. He has become a biased person. "Do you want Negroes by the carload in our schools and churches and theaters?" he asked. The desperate feeling Scout on her father is wholly felt by the readers of the book.

The LA Times released a review saying reading the "Go Set a Watchman" is a huge mistake. The New York Times said editor Therese von Hohoff was the invisible hand guiding the author as she transformed this book into “Mockingbird." The U.S. media was saying the book, published after 55 years, didn`t live up to expectations.

CNN reported fans` responses to the news. A reader named Andrew Heddley said "The idea of Atticus Finch being racist is like Spielberg doing a sequel in which ET punches Eliot in the face and steals his lunch money." Another reader named Chrys said, "My fictional husband since 8th grade is a racist and my entire childhood is a lie." Yet there were also some positive reponses. Joss Taylor Olson said, "To all the people who are pissed that Atticus Finch is racist in Go Set a Watchman: Grow up. The world is a complex and heartbreaking place," while Charny Palmer said, "I refuse to believe Atticus is a racist. Harper Lee is just making us all think deeper."