I’m not surprised Harper Lee passed away.
Ever since the release of her new novel "Go Set a Watchman," I’ve been suspicious. Growing up, my mom loved Harper Lee; she was such an inspiration to both my mom and me. With a classic novel like "To Kill a Mockingbird," how could she not be inspiring for us? If you aren’t familiar, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story narrated by young Scout Finch, a tomboy, who grows up in Malcomb County. Her father, Atticus, is a lawyer who defends a black man in a case of rape against a white woman. Alongside the case, Scout and her brother Jem find themselves in a relationship with Boo Radley. Her novel just goes to show readers that you never really know someone until you can put yourself in their shoes.
After Harper Lee released her classic book, she was not like most writers. She didn’t want attention. Lee refused to do interviews. Publicity was not the purpose of her novel. Lee wrote her story strictly for the purpose of writing. Her novel touched upon some serious issues; rape and racism. To me, it is important for any person to read this novel, as it can teach valuable lessons that everyone should learn. After writing "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee became a recluse.
But how come so many years later she decides to release another novel? Well, maybe she doesn’t. Since the her original novel was released, her sister Alice Lee was her lawyer and counselor. Alice took good care of Harper and her situation. Sadly, in 2014, Alice passed away. Without her sister, Harper didn’t have much control anymore. Not even a year after her sister passed away, Harper Lee is releasing a new novel, "Go Set a Watchman." Oddly enough, the manuscript for "Go Set a Watchman" was found in October of 2011. How come it took so long to release it then? It’s not a coincidence her sister wasn’t alive for the release, as her sister wouldn’t allow it. Unfortunately for Harper, the publishers had manipulated her into publishing another novel, which was against her original intentions.
Now to the passing of Harper Lee. It was clear that Lee was getting up there in her age, as she was 89. When the novel "Go Set a Watchman" released this past summer, I was expecting her passing would be soon. Little did I know that it would be seven months from then, although it is claimed that the writer was in basic good health and passed in her sleep. I don’t doubt this, but it wasn’t likely that Harper Lee would live for many years, as most of Lee’s family passed away around the same age she did. Recently, Lee had been living in an assisted living home, a place where she had little control. With Lee’s old age, it would make it easier for the publishers and others to manipulate her into releasing her new book and for the publishers to receive a big chunk of the money made from the new novel.
I don’t find any of these curiosities coincidental. The publishers knew what they were doing. They knew they had to wait, so they did. They got what they wanted — more money — even though it meant breaking Harper Lee’s wishes to remain out of the spotlight and not to release any more work. Yet, Harper Lee remains in my heart as strong woman and a hero to many.
