Harper Lee’s Influences for To Kill a Mockingbird Born in Monroeville, Alabama, on April 28, 1926, Nelle Harper Lee was destined to become a legend. When Harper Lee published her first, and only novel To Kill a Mockingbird, she had no idea the impact it would have not only on her generation, but generations to come. Harper Lee grew up in the small town of Monroeville, Alabama, and from her experiences and relationships in the town she drew inspiration for what would come to be known as “One of America’s Greatest Novels” Harper Lee, born Nelle Harper Lee, was the youngest of four children to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch. Her father Amasa Coleman Lee served as a member of the Alabama State of Representatives from 1927-1939; he was the
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Although the novel is a work of fiction it has multiple parallels to Harper Lee’s own life. It is clear that she based multiple characters in the novel off of people from her own life. Atticus Finch in the novel is a lawyer, and very attentive father to Scout and Jem, just like Harper Lee’s father, Amasa Coleman Lee was to her and her siblings. In the novel Scout’s friend Dill, who visits every summer, and stays with his aunt, is based off of Lee’s friend, and fellow author Truman Capote. Knowing that Lee’s mother suffered from depression, and stayed inside most of the time, one could make the argument that she served as inspiration for the character of Boo Radely, the Finches reclusive neighbor in To Kill a Mockingbird. There was a man named Arthur Bouleware, who was kept inside by his father as punishment for being arrested. He lived on Lee’s street, and is considered by some to be who Boo Radely is based off of. Lee’s childhood friends and family often described her as an unreserved tomboy during her childhood, the young narrator Scout was also an unashamed tomboy throughout the
Although the novel is a work of fiction it has multiple parallels to Harper Lee’s own life. It is clear that she based multiple characters in the novel off of people from her own life. Atticus Finch in the novel is a lawyer, and very attentive father to Scout and Jem, just like Harper Lee’s father, Amasa Coleman Lee was to her and her siblings. In the novel Scout’s friend Dill, who visits every summer, and stays with his aunt, is based off of Lee’s friend, and fellow author Truman Capote. Knowing that Lee’s mother suffered from depression, and stayed inside most of the time, one could make the argument that she served as inspiration for the character of Boo Radely, the Finches reclusive neighbor in To Kill a Mockingbird. There was a man named Arthur Bouleware, who was kept inside by his father as punishment for being arrested. He lived on Lee’s street, and is considered by some to be who Boo Radely is based off of. Lee’s childhood friends and family often described her as an unreserved tomboy during her childhood, the young narrator Scout was also an unashamed tomboy throughout the