English the Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Essay

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English

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

The book "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" by Caron McCullers has received critical reviews by the likes of critics such as Laurie Champion. Here is what Champion had to say:

As quoted by Champion, Richard Cook makes the following statement in his book, "Carson McCullers": "Yet McCullers has consistently subordinated moral outrage and social and political commentary to her overriding concern with the mysteries of individual human name (Champion, 1991). She describes the social environment with a fullness of detail not found in any of her later novels, but we are asked to look inward to the heart rather than onward to political and economic structures in society for any final answers to human problems (Champion, 1991)."

Argument

Hence, the quote provided by Champion is quite agreeable. McCuller has given a thorough detail regarding the social environment, which wasn't a part of her previous novels, whilst a message is sent to solve the prevailing human problems as well (Writer Thoughts). Albeit, the plot of the novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is the person's spiritual segregation, McCullers has touched upon soft themes; for instance, dangers of capitalism, youthful beginnings and ills of racism (Champion, 199). Hence, these additional themes run parallel with the story at hand same as the characters of the novel move along as Singer signifies the central character.

Richard Cook in his book titled Carson McCullers talks about McCullers deviation from the central plot (Champion, 1991). He writes that McCullers's intentional digression was to her own advantage as it helped in setting the novel beautifully. Because she has portrayed a more moving and effective image of the subject -- a human- who is surrounded by problems and suffering in loneliness. Her dealing with Doctor Copeland as well as the Negro issue for example, goes beyond the scope of novel's plot as she explains these details of Southern Negro's delusions, his personal experience with justice system and his physical ailments.

McCullers has explored in great depth the conditions of the American Negros dwelling in the South in the 1930's, but this digression becomes a base for her major theme: All people are lone rangers including children, whites, blacks, freaks, adolescents and normal ones (Champion, 1991). She portrays this social problem quite well, which is previously recognized in critique of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

Below are excerpts from the book which signifies Cook attempts to summon the image of the subject (Writer Thoughts). It's comparable to a human who needs to talk for the sake of conversation with a death mute. Imagine how extreme one feels in isolation when they desire to converse with a death mute who wouldn't comprehend what's said in a conversation (Writer Thoughts)?

"Resentment is the most precious flower of poverty. Yeah.' It was good to talk. The sound of his voice gave him pleasure. The tones seemed to echo and hang on the air so that each word sounded twice (McCuellers, 2004-page 55). He swallowed and moistened his mouth to speak again. He wanted suddenly to return to the mute's quiet room and tell him of the thoughts that were in his mind. It was a queer thing to want to talk with a deaf-mute (McCuellers, 2004-page 55) . But he was lonesome. The street before him dimmed with the coming evening. Occasionally men passed along the narrow street very close to him, talking in monotones to each other, a cloud of dust rising around their feet with each step. Or girls passed by together, or a mother with a child across her shoulder. Jake sat numbly for some time, and at last he got to his feet and walked on. Weavers Lane was dark. Oil lamps made yellow, trembling patches of light in the doorways and windows. Some of the houses were entirely dark and the families sat on their front steps with only the reflections from a neighboring house to see by (McCuellers, 2004-page 55). A woman leaned out of a window and splashed a pail of dirty water into the street. A few drops of it splashed on Jake's face. High, angry voices could be heard from the backs of some of the houses. From others there was the peaceful sound of a chair slowly rocking."

Here the author is asserting that resentment is a byproduct of poverty. Agreed, it was a nice conversation. His response gives him warmness. The sound of the voice sung in the air as each word sounded like an echo in itself.

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He dampened his parched mouth to say something. All at once, he wanted to reach the comfort of death mute's room and reveal the thoughts he had on his mind. It was a strange thing to converse with a deaf-mute. But he was lonely. With the evening, the street became dimed with daylight. Seldom, men would pass him closely talking to each other in low voices, raising dust with their steps. Girls passed by, or mothers with infants in their arms. Jake sat for a while, in the end, he stood up and walked off (McCuellers, 2004-page 55). Here is another scenario from the book:

"Then the music started. Mick raised her head and her fist went up to her throat. How did it come? For a minute the opening balanced from one side to the other. Like a walk or march. Like God strutting in the night (McCuellers, 2004-page 100). The outside of her was suddenly froze and only that first part of the music was hot inside her heart. She could not even hear what sounded after, but she sat there waiting and froze, with her fists tight. After a while the music came again, harder and loud. It didn't have anything to do with God. This was her, Mick Kelly, walking in the daytime and by herself at night. In the hot sun and in the dark with all the plans and feelings. This music was her -- the real plain her. She could not listen good enough to hear it all The music boiled inside her. Which (McCuellers, 2004-page 100)? To hang on to certain wonderful parts and think them over so that later she would not forget -- or should she let go and listen to each part that came without thinking or trying to remember? Golly! The whole world was this music and she could not listen hard enough. Then at last the opening music came again, with all the different instruments bunched together for each note like a hard, tight fist that socked at her heart. And the first part was over. This music did not take a long time or a short time. It did not have anything to do with time going by at all. She sat with her arms held tight around her legs, biting her salty knee very hard. It might have been five minutes she listened or half the night. The second part was black-colored -- a slow march. Not sad, but like the whole world was dead and black and there was no use thinking back how it was before. One of those horn kind of instruments played a sad and silver tune (McCueller, 2004-page 100)."

The author asserts that weavers Lane was dimly lit. Oil lamps threw yellow flickering light in doorways and windows. Certain homes were completely obscure and families were sitting on the front porch as light from the neighboring houses made them visible. A woman appeared in the window and splattered dirty water down on the street. Jake's face was splashed by a few drops. Angry voices were heard in some houses. In some other houses, sound of a rocking chair could be heard (McCuellers, 2004-page 55).

This moment in the book, to me, shows separation of the social environment through the idea of music. When the opening music starts it is hard and loud. When it comes again it is even harder. In the sense the music is Mick (Writer Thought). The music shows the sadness of the plight that her social order is in. Lastly, the concluding part of the novel reprises the point illustrated in the beginning wherein he fought for the control within him. He fought until the discipline came to him. He shoved away the shout within him and found his strong voice.

"He struggled for the control in him. He struggled and at last the discipline returned. He pushed down the shout in him and sought for the strong, true voice. 'Attention!' he called. 'We will save ourselves. But not by prayers of mourning. Not by indolence or strong drink. Not by the pleasures of the body or by ignorance. Not by submission and humbleness (McCueller, 2004-page 166). But by pride. By dignity. By becoming hard and strong. We must build strength for our real true purpose.' He stopped abruptly and held himself very straight. 'Each year at this time we illustrate in our small way the first….....

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