Summary Of Go Set A Watchman

Harper Lee

Go Set A Watchman

Jean Louise Finch is a young woman living in New York. In Part 1 it is said that she will travel to Maycomb, Alabama, where she plans to spend two weeks holiday with his family. she hopes to find his father, Atticus, by waiting at the train station, but instead, he meets Henry Clinton instead. He was an old friend and a lawyer at the Atticus law office. Henry believes that later Jean Louise will marry him and he explains that he will take care of Jean Louise. Jean Louise must have been hesitant, but she was sure that she would marry Henry someday.

            Jean Louise, nicknamed Scout, is the only child still alive in her family. Her mother died of heart disease when Jean Louise was a baby. Jean Louise had a brother, Jeremy, who died young because of the same illness with their mother. Jean Louise was left alone from a young age and her father, Atticus played an active role in her childhood. When he began to grow up Jean Louise study in  law school to become a lawyer. Because of the death of his brother Jeremy, Jean Louise became the most potential person to take over most of Atticus's law firm's work, because the rest was still being employed by his father, who was in his early 70, but still working almost every day even though someone Alexandra limits her activities.

            Atticus's sister, Alexandra, lives with Atticus and takes care of the house and Atticus needs. Brother Alexandra and Atticus, Jack, is a retired doctor who lives near their home. The town is small but only a few things change, unavoidable changes.
After worshiping his first Sunday at home, Jean Louise found a pamphlet advocating white supremacy and requested a separation between blacks and whites. Jean Louise was horrified and more so when she discovered that her Aunt Alexandra supported the idea. Jean Louise later found that Atticus and Alexandra and Henry were attending a meeting on race issues and went straight to the courthouse to find out. He sat on the balcony and watched as the leaders of the area listened to a man who spewed hatred against blacks. Jean Louise was very upset and avoided Atticus, Alexandra, and Henry for the rest of the day.

            Jean Louise went to visit Calpurnia, a black woman who treated Jean Louise and her brother when they were little. Calpurnia hardly knew Jean Louise, and Jean Louise let her inquire about memories when Jean Louise was a child. While At home, Aunt Alexandra said that no white people in the area would visit the black house. This was the first time Jean Louise had seen the true state of the relationship between the races at Maycomb County. 

            She plans to spend the rest of her vacation to avoid Atticus, Henry and Alexandra as much as possible but find it impossible to avoid confrontation. He then meets with Henry who tries to explain his participation in the group by saying that he has to do anything to adjust to society. He then meets Atticus. She tells him that she does not understand the situation. He said that the people of Maycomb County, and the South as a whole, have the right to decide how to deal with race issues without outside interference, including from groups like the NAACP. 

            The confrontation was very painful for Jean Louise. He has spent his entire life to obey Atticus and always in accordance with the ideals and desires of Atticus. When she tells him how angry she is, she just says that she has the right to feel it. It made him even more angry and he moved away from his office. At home, he packs up and plans to leave soon but Uncle Jack stops him. Jack slapped him, forcing him to slow down and consider the situation.   

            When his anger began to subside. Jack points out that he has become a person who has prejudiced things. Jean says that he believes that his stance is right and he does not want to consider that there are others who have legitimate reasons to take another position. Jean Louise realizes that she is right and she is horrified that she spoke very rudely to her father. Atticus tells her that he's proud of her for standing up for what she believes is right.