Isolation In Carson Mcculler's The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

In her debut novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers perfectly captures the sense of human isolation. Throughout her book, McCullers masterfully maintains the unrelenting motif of loneliness by providing intimate details of the lives of five different characters. However, despite being stuck in the stifling, soul crushing South, Mick Kelly rises above the recurring theme of disillusionment and burns bright with ambition and emotion. With her passion for music, her sensitivity towards others, and her growing relationship with her family, Mick Kelly gives readers confidence that she will have a hopeful future. Mick Kelly’s devotion to music sets her apart from everyone else in the novel. Mick does not just admire music, music is something that consumes her soul. When she listens to Beethoven, Mick responds by “hitting her thigh with her fist. She pounded the same muscle with all her strength until the tears came down her face. But she could not feel this hard enough,” (119). Her reaction is full of raw, unadulterated emotion. However, when the book starts to reach an end, Mick Kelly …show more content…
For instance, this quality is best recognized in a scene between her and her father. Mick proves how perceptive she can be when she recognizes that her father is “lonesome” and how “he felt like he wasn’t much real use to anybody,” (101). When he tells her he knows she is in a hurry and only wants to say hello, Mick responds by saying, “No, I’m not in any rush,” (101). She stays with her father for a while and provides the emotional support he needs in that moment. This proves that Mick is not selfish or uncommunicative. She is present for her father when it matters most. This scene also showcases Mick’s ability to connect with other people. Mick demonstrates that she has the potential to rebuild relationships, and it leaves readers with the expectation that Mick will be able to reconnect with her