Harper Lee may be something of a one-hit-wonder as a novelist, mostly due to the fact that, until just recently, she had only published one novel (To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960). But it was a pretty good one! It won her the Nobel Prize for Literature and (years later) the Presidential Medal of Freedom, along with a host of other accolades. They made a movie out of it, which also won a bunch of awards.
Lee’s recently published and highly anticipated second novel, Go Set a Watchman, is unlikely to put more trophies on her shelf. Not that I’ve read it. (Why would I? In the Internet Age, actually imbibing a piece of art is superfluous to having an opinion about it, especially if that opinion is garbled outrage.) That’s a shame. Because even though the book itself is (probably) mediocre as a work of literature, Harper Lee deserves to be recognized for pulling off one of the most sophisticated and protracted trolling schemes in the history of written language.
As it turns out, in Watchmen, which is set some 20 years after the events in Mockingbird, the much-beloved hero character from the first book, Atticus Finch, is a massive racist. Many fans were dismayed to learn that Atticus is depicted as a crotchety Klan-supporter who imparts some pretty repulsive attitudes towards black people in conversations with his grown-up daughter Jean Louise, formerly known as “Scout.”
This portrayal stands in stark contrast (or maybe not, depending on who you ask) to the noble defense attorney who mounts a vigorous but ultimately unsuccessful defense of a black man wrongfully accused. His devolution was especially painful for the legions of white people who had come to revere the character of Atticus, not least because they saw in him a reflection of their own noble opposition to racism.
None, however, were more “crestfallen,” according to an exclusive New York Times investigation, “than those who chose that name [Atticus] for their children.” White hipsters, you’ve officially been trolled. Lee has pulled off a bait-and-switch of epic proportions—more than 50 years in the making—and has targeted one of the most trollable demographics where they are most vulnerable.
Naming your child after Atticus Finch is a great way to casually convey to other parents that A) you read books, and B) aren’t a racist. Plus, the name itself is a natural conversation starter, so you’ll be “forced” to talk about it, and graciously accept the compliments you’ll get for having such sophisticated taste. “Yes, it would be great if little Atticus grew up to be a noble lawyer who [after a stint in corporate finance law to pay off his student loans] defends the downtrodden.”
One is tempted to feel a bit sorry for these folks. After all, many of them are presumably still in shock after learning that one of their favorite politically charged comedians, Amy Schumer, might also be racist. That is, until you read the story, which could only be published in the Times, and could easily be mistaken for parody. Prior to the release of Watchmen, many of these parents were worried that their Atticuses “would no longer stand out,” thanks to fact that more white hipsters are having kids. As a result, the name Atticus has become increasingly popular, rising to 370th on the list of most common boy’s name, next to Enzo and Kash. “We’ve always wanted to have names for our kids that aren’t super popular,” the father of young Atticus Campbell told the Times.
You’ll be shocked to learn that when Mr. and Mrs. Campbell first met, they quickly “bonded over the fact that they both wanted to one day name a child Atticus.” If there’s a silver lining in the fictional character’s racist turn, Mr. Campbell reckons, it’s that perhaps the name will retain some of its uniqueness. On the other hand, the social implications could be devastating. As the Times explains, “there are those who worry that the book will prompt an unfortunate questioning of their children in the future: Which Atticus were you named for?”
Atticus Boykin’s father, for example, was heartbroken. “It’s so disappointing because it’s the opposite of what we loved about the character,” he said. The Times caught up with 37-year-old Atticus Gannaway of Manhattan, whose birth name is Ryan but “started going by Atticus in college,” who had a more magnanimous reaction, finding “comfort in the idea that ‘Watchman’ might be part of a deeper conversation about race and history in America.”
Bravo, Harper Lee. You’ve trolled us all.
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