Bronson Leinweber
Professor Harrington
English 101
15 November 2015
Literary Analysis Essay Draft #1
The Brink of Destruction Thomas Carlyle once said, “Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man”. Throughout the novel, “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”, by Carson McCullers, the protagonist character Mick Kelly is stuck in isolation as she tries to find her true inner self. Due to different goals and aspirations, it is very difficult for her to communicate with her her friends and family. Throughout the plot, Mick struggles to find herself and is alienated from the society in which she is a part of. Constantly struggling to find her place, she has no other choice than to revert to her true escape. Music and art. The alienation of Mick …show more content…
For instance, both Mick and Carson both share a special bond for the arts and music. McCullers writes, “Mick tried to think of some good private place where she could go be by herself and study about this music. But though she thought about this a long time she knew in the beginning that there was no good place”. (53) Growing up, Mick has great ambitions of being a star musician and constantly reverts to music when need be. Battling depression, Mick has nobody to turn to and nothing but music to cope her needs. Society surrounding Mick has no clue what she is going through. Mick hides herself in rooms, sheltering herself from the real world, as the earth around her shatters to pieces. As the novel continues, society starts to perceive Mick as the lost quiet one. McCullers quotes, “But if she wasn’t nursing or trying to keep up with the bigger ones, she was by herself.” (18) Ever since Mick’s childhood, she has been the odd ball out. For the most part, society’s moral values stay the same as Mick’s charter …show more content…
Besides reverting to the piano and art, Mick tries another solution to cope with her illness. Like Dr.Copeland, Jake, and Biff, Mick unloads her story to the deaf mute, John Singer. Singer as he does with the other characters, nods as a deaf mute would do. At one point in the novel, Singer decides to write a letter to his long lost friend Antonapoulos. McCullers writes, “I do not mean that they work at their jobs all day and night but that they have much business in their minds always that does not let them rest. They come up to my room and talk to me until I do not understand how a person can open and shut his or her mouth so much without being weary”. In the letter, Singer not only opens up his real feelings, but he exposes the ones who have trusted him. Secrets that if were to be found, would not only crush the people around him, but most likely put Mick on the brink of suicide. This letter is a great example of society’s perception of Mick and her lonesome self. Also, a major event that impacted Mick’s perception was when she frightens her brother Bubber to run away. At this point in the novel, Mick is not only struggling personally but has another problem on her hands. McCullers pens, “He was too quick for Mick to stop him. She had just seen his hand on the trigger when there was the terrible ping of the gun. Baby crumpled down to the sidewalk. It was like she was nailed to the steps and couldn’t move or scream”. (167)
Professor Harrington
English 101
15 November 2015
Literary Analysis Essay Draft #1
The Brink of Destruction Thomas Carlyle once said, “Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man”. Throughout the novel, “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”, by Carson McCullers, the protagonist character Mick Kelly is stuck in isolation as she tries to find her true inner self. Due to different goals and aspirations, it is very difficult for her to communicate with her her friends and family. Throughout the plot, Mick struggles to find herself and is alienated from the society in which she is a part of. Constantly struggling to find her place, she has no other choice than to revert to her true escape. Music and art. The alienation of Mick …show more content…
For instance, both Mick and Carson both share a special bond for the arts and music. McCullers writes, “Mick tried to think of some good private place where she could go be by herself and study about this music. But though she thought about this a long time she knew in the beginning that there was no good place”. (53) Growing up, Mick has great ambitions of being a star musician and constantly reverts to music when need be. Battling depression, Mick has nobody to turn to and nothing but music to cope her needs. Society surrounding Mick has no clue what she is going through. Mick hides herself in rooms, sheltering herself from the real world, as the earth around her shatters to pieces. As the novel continues, society starts to perceive Mick as the lost quiet one. McCullers quotes, “But if she wasn’t nursing or trying to keep up with the bigger ones, she was by herself.” (18) Ever since Mick’s childhood, she has been the odd ball out. For the most part, society’s moral values stay the same as Mick’s charter …show more content…
Besides reverting to the piano and art, Mick tries another solution to cope with her illness. Like Dr.Copeland, Jake, and Biff, Mick unloads her story to the deaf mute, John Singer. Singer as he does with the other characters, nods as a deaf mute would do. At one point in the novel, Singer decides to write a letter to his long lost friend Antonapoulos. McCullers writes, “I do not mean that they work at their jobs all day and night but that they have much business in their minds always that does not let them rest. They come up to my room and talk to me until I do not understand how a person can open and shut his or her mouth so much without being weary”. In the letter, Singer not only opens up his real feelings, but he exposes the ones who have trusted him. Secrets that if were to be found, would not only crush the people around him, but most likely put Mick on the brink of suicide. This letter is a great example of society’s perception of Mick and her lonesome self. Also, a major event that impacted Mick’s perception was when she frightens her brother Bubber to run away. At this point in the novel, Mick is not only struggling personally but has another problem on her hands. McCullers pens, “He was too quick for Mick to stop him. She had just seen his hand on the trigger when there was the terrible ping of the gun. Baby crumpled down to the sidewalk. It was like she was nailed to the steps and couldn’t move or scream”. (167)