In The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, the emotional environment in the families and close friends huge role in her novel. McCullers herself struggled with the emotional environment of her family life. At a young age she changed her name from Lula to Carson. When one changes their name, it signifies a since of insecurity and shows they what to reinvent themselves. Once she had gotten married, both her and her husband cheated, and were very unhappy. She was unfaithful which shows her lack of respect towards marriage and love. Later in life, she tried to commit suicide, but she was unsuccessful. She clearly does not appreciate life and what it has to offer. McCullers has a negative view on family, which shows in her writing because
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He is a character who was constantly looking for himself in the novel, and felt alone as well. McCullers says, “That was all he wanted for himself – to give to her. Biff 's mouth hardened. He had done nothing wrong but in him he felt a strange guilt. Why? The dark guilt in all men, unreckoned and without a name” (223). He had guilt in his family because he felt that he was not good enough. He felt that he did not know who he was, and did not feel accepted in the world. Also, He was upset emotionally because he never had children. He was always disappointed because he never had the chance to become a father. This caused grief and emotional problems in his family life. McCullers says, “Then gradually as he sat there his thoughts turned to a picture that had been stored inside him.[...] Children were here whom he knew, Mick and his niece, Baby, and there were also strange faces no one had ever seen before. Biff bowed his head” (122). Biff is upset with himself for not having children, but also very frustrated emotionally because he has never found anyone who wants to settle down and have kids. This gives biff an emotional family environment. Lastly, Biff is the last one alive in his family and he wonders about the meaning of life. McCullers
He is a character who was constantly looking for himself in the novel, and felt alone as well. McCullers says, “That was all he wanted for himself – to give to her. Biff 's mouth hardened. He had done nothing wrong but in him he felt a strange guilt. Why? The dark guilt in all men, unreckoned and without a name” (223). He had guilt in his family because he felt that he was not good enough. He felt that he did not know who he was, and did not feel accepted in the world. Also, He was upset emotionally because he never had children. He was always disappointed because he never had the chance to become a father. This caused grief and emotional problems in his family life. McCullers says, “Then gradually as he sat there his thoughts turned to a picture that had been stored inside him.[...] Children were here whom he knew, Mick and his niece, Baby, and there were also strange faces no one had ever seen before. Biff bowed his head” (122). Biff is upset with himself for not having children, but also very frustrated emotionally because he has never found anyone who wants to settle down and have kids. This gives biff an emotional family environment. Lastly, Biff is the last one alive in his family and he wonders about the meaning of life. McCullers