Similarities Between To Kill A Mockingbird And Catcher In The Rye

Contemplation: simply fiction or a nebulous memoir?

A well known adage in the literary world, is for writers to “write what they know”. In many cases this rings to be true, perhaps the writers will set their story in a place they once lived, base a character on someone they once knew. It’s quite evident that in the novels Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird there are striking similarities between these novels and their respective authors’ own lives. It could be said, that these authors simply used their own experiences as inspiration to their novels. However, when taken into consideration that protagonists own conflicts are indistinguishable between their own author 's personal struggles. It is feasible in stating that J.D. Salinger …show more content…
It has been proposed that Maycomb, is the counterpart to Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, and the events that took place are based on events in Lee’s childhood. Scout, like Lee, grew up in the depression era south, and was born to parents, Atticus Finch and an unnamed mother. Atticus Finch in the novel, serves as a lawyer, member of the state legislature, similarly to Lee’s own father. In the novel, the character Scout and her brother Jem’s, mother is not present and is assumed dead. Although her own mother was not dead, she did suffer from mental illness and was not really “present” in Harper Lee’s life. It could also be presumed that Scout’s brother Jem, is based on one of Lee’s three siblings. The titular family last name of Finch, was taken from Harper Lee mother’s maiden name. It has also been suggested that Scout’s best friend in the novel, Dill, is based off of Lee’s own friend Truman Capote. Both character’s being small, interested in literature, and parentless in a sense. As for the novel’s central theme of prejudice and injustice, Atticus Finch is tasked with defending black man, Tom Robinson, and although clearly innocent, he is charged with a crime he did not commit and is subsequently killed. Lee’s own father, Amasa Coleman, once defended two black men, a father and son, for the murder of a white store clerk, and like Atticus …show more content…
Salinger and Harper Lee based their novels, specifically the protagonist on themselves. Not only does the likeness of the characters, their families, and settings resemble their authors, but the same struggles can be seen in the authors’ lives. For J. D. Salinger struggled finding meaning, reason, and happiness in his life just as Holden Caulfield. Additionally, Harper Lee, had to witness the cruelties of the human condition from an young age, and learned for the better from it. I conclude, that the paramount substantiation, is how the authors must see themselves. Has not anyone, ever pondered why J. D. Salinger became a recluse, refused to allow his beloved novel be turned into a major film. Or why Harper Lee refused to be interviewed about the novel, or avoids her hometown celebration of it every year. These authors are so protective of their novels, because they are not simply stories, but their own story. They had the courage to share with the world a version, whether it be a fictionalized version or not, of themselves. That is why these novels are so highly regarded, because they are most fervently