Atticus Finch
Artist's interpretation of Atticus Finch
It is said that the character of Atticus Finch is based on Harper Lee's father as well as her close, personal friend Nick Velillari; both were lawyers and both were very moral people.Harper Lee's father, Amasa Coleman Lee was a lawyer who worked in the courthouse of Monroeville and, like Atticus, was a member of the state's House of Representatives. He was also a very ethical man, who's daughter (Alice) described him as "a very gentle man... a very family orientated man... he loved his children, he was just a very community oriented person."
Unlike Atticus Finch, AC Lee was the editor of the town's local newspaper, but even though he had the power to say what he really thought was right, he couldn't or nobody would by his publication.
Again, like Finch, A.C.L was a civil lawyer who was appointed by the court to defend two black people on trial for murder.
It is believed that the case of Tom Robinson is based on this case as well as the trial of Walter Let in Monroeville, 1933. Let was a black man who was accused of raping a white woman, just as Tom Robinson was. The newspaper office has records of every case that took place in Monroeville in chronological order, but strangely the file on Walter Let is missing. Some believe that AC Lee took the case file to give his daughter details to write about.
Little is known about Nick Velillari, other than his occupation (lawyer).
Unlike Atticus Finch, AC Lee was the editor of the town's local newspaper, but even though he had the power to say what he really thought was right, he couldn't or nobody would by his publication.
Again, like Finch, A.C.L was a civil lawyer who was appointed by the court to defend two black people on trial for murder.
It is believed that the case of Tom Robinson is based on this case as well as the trial of Walter Let in Monroeville, 1933. Let was a black man who was accused of raping a white woman, just as Tom Robinson was. The newspaper office has records of every case that took place in Monroeville in chronological order, but strangely the file on Walter Let is missing. Some believe that AC Lee took the case file to give his daughter details to write about.
Little is known about Nick Velillari, other than his occupation (lawyer).