Heart is a lonely hunter - symbology of music - Essay Example

When one reads “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter,” they can hear the sounds of music through the words, as music shapes the way that this entire novel iswritten. The language of the novel is sometimes written in such a way that makes it seem as though one is listening to music that is rhythmic and harmonious, such as when the depressing duets take place between Mick and Singer. At other times, however, the novel takes a different turn, as the language makes it seem as though one is listening to music that is harsh and discordant, such as when the final argument takes place between Jake and Dr. Copeland. Along with the different types of music that are portrayed in the novel, McCullers also enables us to experience silence, as in the case of singer, who is a mute (Big Read, 2). Not to mention, this novel is musical in that it deals with the polyphonic characteristics of words and phrases, as it relates to the structure of the complete novel (Fuller 57). McCullers is ingenious in how she creates different voices with the characters in the novel that have differing tones and sounds that are like different musical instruments, which are to represent the way their lives are, as well as their thoughts and what they are determined to do; yet, these voices sing similar notes, which are the two similar themes in which the novel is written around. The different tones or musical instruments that the voices of the novel are made to sound like represent the various feats that the characters are determined to accomplish, as well as how their lives are. For instance, John Singer is a deaf mute. Because of this, he is trapped inside himself and unable to communicate with those in the outside world. The tone or musical sound that his voice is to represent is that of determination to communicate with others. “Man’s revolt”, as McCullers and Margarita G. Smith says, is “against his inner isolation and his urge to express himself as fully as possible” (124). This is in the case with Singer because this is what he wants to do but is not sure how. Throughout the novel, he smiles warmly to his companions when they come to visit him. He tries to show them understanding. He makes every effort to show those that he is listening to that he cares about them and that what they are saying matters; however, those who come to visit him will never know what his true feelings are because he is unable to get them out. His lack of communication limits him so much that people can formulate whatever opinions they want about him. Poor people think Singer to be one of them. Jews think Singer to be as they are. The rich consider Singer to be one of them. This is the reason that so many people feel comfortable enough to be in his presence and sound off to him about what is on their minds. They do not feel strange or alienated (Gioia). While he is in the presence of others, he is all alone at the same time. Being that he is unable to communicate; his life is filled with emptiness and sadness, even though a number of people from different walks of life feel they can embrace him due to believing that he is one of them. Singer wants nothing more but to be able to be freed of being trapped inside of himself. Then there is Mick, a teenager in poverty. She loves to hear music, and she is determined to perform someday. She spends time sneaking around rich people’s houses, trying to listen to the musical instruments that are being played to the best of her ability, but she is unable to hear them clearly. Her immense passion for music is made evident in the following line, “She could not listen good enough to hear it all. The music boiled inside her.” (McCullers 118). Mick is not economically able to purchase the violin that she wants, and her contemporary society in which she lives will not allow her to have one. Being that this is her situation, she is determined to love music, nonetheless, causing her voice to possess the tone of determination. "But all the time—no matter what she was doing—there was music…she hummed to herself…. she listened quietly to the songs inside her. There were all kinds of music in her thoughts.” (McCullers 89). Her inability to obtain the violin that she wants causes her to be unable to reconcile herself to the world in which she lives because she cannot obtain the peace that she needs. Her world is filled with violence and various other troubles, such as a psychological disorder, and music is how she escapes to find peace and tranquility. Her struggle is represented through the struggles that Singer must deal with in regards to isolation and the lack of ability to communicate. Next is the black doctor, Dr. Copeland. The novel is set during a time period when racial equality is not yet achieved between whites and blacks. Dr. Copeland must contend with being discriminated against on a constant basis. Because of this, he is isolated in a since that he is not able to properly communicate his feelings, being that society’s constraints will not allow him to. His marginalization keeps him cut off, requiring that he does not speak out about his desires and feelings, as it concerns racial equality, his desires to flourish economically, and the discrimination that he must contend with. He can, of course, speak to his own people about the things that trouble him; however, he cannot to white people, especially the lawmakers (Gioia). The tone of his voice is that of mourning and determination. He mourns the treatment of himself and his people, but he is determined to do whatever possible to attain racial equality. Jake Blount is another of the characters who struggle to find his place in society. Because he has not yet found his place, he feels as though he does not belong, which causes him to experience a degree of isolation because he is unable to identify with others around him, causing him to be pushed into his own world. To cope with his pain of not belonging and feeling lonely, he takes to alcohol consumption, drinking all of his sorrows away. He visits Singer, hoping to be understood, just the same as the other characters (Gioia). Finally, there is Biff Brannon. He is a character that is under represented, and he is not spectacular in the least bit. He is an average man who does not stand out; however, he has come to peace with the world, and he extends compassion to those who are down and out, such as by giving them free drinks. He is also so concerned for Mick to the point that it actually becomes an obsession. Concerning Brannon, the big Read states; Biff is a compassionate non-spectacular person. Hes made his peace with the world around him. He opens his heart to the lost souls. Really, he should have been the hub around who all of these lost souls gathered. I wondered when I was reading the book, “Why are they in Singers room and not in Biffs café?” Biffs café is always available; its a place of forgiveness and acceptance, unconditional acceptance. And I think that that describes sort of a quintessential human failing. That quite frequently, the peace that lies right underneath our nose, we reject for something more exotic (Gioia). The other four characters were so desperate for something more exotic that they overlooked Brannon. They could have achieved the peace and understanding that they were so desperate for at his humble café, which was always available and open to accepting the lost souls, but just as people routinely reject peace and forgiveness, the two things that are so easily attainable, they dismiss these simple things in an effort to find greater fulfillment. The Tone of Brannon’s voice is that of peace and compassion, though he is sad that he is unable to communicate well enough to be noticed, which will enable to help more of those in need. All five of these characters are creatively woven into the novel’s two main themes. The first theme that is the centration of this novel is that of isolation and the lack of an ability to communicate with others in the outside world, as it appears is the problem with the characters in this novel. McCullers and Smith confirm this by telling us that, “it is the story of five isolated, lonely people in their search for expression and spiritual integration with something greater than themselves” (125). Not only do these characters have difficulty with getting those in the outside world to understand them, they cannot communicate with one another due to one difficulty or another that hinders them (Gioia). No matter how hard these characters try to communicate, though, their efforts are thwarted. These thwarted attempts are illustrated through John Singer, as McCullers states that “Singer is…..the symbol of isolation and thwarted expression” (126). Because Singer is used to illustrate one of the novel’s chief themes, it makes complete since that he is the main character who typically gains the support of his four other peers in expressing their feelings about their lack of ability to communicate, as well as the feelings concerning their loneliness. He gains this support due to the fact that the other four characters come to him each on their own time, and they use Singer as a sounding board because they feel comfortable in his presence, and they feel understood by him. All along, though, his thoughts and feelings are never known until towards the end of the novel, when he writes to his friend, the only other person whom he can really identify with because he is also deaf and mute, who is still in a mental institution, expressing how badly he misses him (Gioia). The second theme that “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” is centered around is limitations that hold people back from achieving the success that they so desire. Singer wants to communicate with those around him. He wants desperately to be understood, and he wants to share with others. He is unable to do this, due to the fact that he has two disabilities that limit him from doing such things—the inability to hear and the inability to speak. Depending on the severity of one’s disability, that person will experience a number of limitations on various levels. This is apparent in Singer. Another limitation that can be seen in the novel is racial inequality. Dr. Copeland contends with this, being that he is a black man who lives in a society that is very much dominated by white supremacy. Dr. Copeland must stay within his marginalized role, and this puts constraints on him that do not allow him to share in the American dream in the way that he would like. Dr. Copeland desperately wants him and his people to enjoy true freedom and equality, and he makes this known to Singer. Biff Brannon is limited in such a way that he does not have the skills needed to stand out. NO matter what he does, he is unable to get noticed. Though he was compassionate and caring, he lacks the necessary social skills that would enable him to reach out to others around him. His lack of social skills put limitations upon him, indeed, because if he is able to reach out to others around him, he will then be noticed more. Mick Kelly has two limitations placed upon her that deeply decreases the quality of her life. Her first limitation is poverty. Poverty limits her in that she cannot obtain the violin that she wants that will enable her to play the music that will enable her to escape into a world where she feels at peace and can flourish, since her dream is to become a performing artist. Because she is not able to live out this dream, she is unable to reconcile herself with the world in which she lives, thus feels troubled and alone. Mick vicariously lives her life through others, as she sneaks around during the middle of the night, listening to the performances that take place at the homes of the rich, wishing that she is the one performing with her violin. Mick’s other limitation appears to be a psychological disorder, which causes her to be impoverished in her mind. Her psychological disorder is what causes her to constantly feel like she needs to escape from reality, since it is too much for her to bear. If Mick is able to enjoy music like she wants, this can be made possible; however, we never know if this happens, since the novel never gives us any information concerning this. Then, there is Jake Flount, who shares the limitation of poverty with Mick. Flount wants to be a part of the American dream and live in luxury; however, he is unable to attain this status for himself. Feeling trouble about his current circumstances, he resorts to heavy drinking, as a means to coping. His heavy drinking causes him to do what most alcoholics do—isolate themselves and drown in their sorrows. Alcoholics drink until they cannot think, so they do not have to think about the troubles that plague them because it is too much for them to bear. Flount does exactly this, and he makes it known to Singer, when he comes to his room and talks to him about what is on his mind. The choice of language, as it pertains to the overall structure of “The Heart is a lonely Hunter” enables the reader to hear the sad sounds of music through the entire novel, from beginning to end. Though the music has a melancholy sound, it is beautiful, nevertheless. Carson McCullers’s creativity with using words to make different voices that sound like different musical instruments; yet, they sing similar notes. The novel is so elegantly written that one can almost hear the sound of music playing as they read. “Heart is a Lonely Hunter,” though it is set in a southern mill town in the 1930’s, McCullers wrote it in such a way that the book can apply to anyone who reads it, as the setting can theoretically take place in any mill town, anywhere in the U.S. Not to mention, many of the difficulties that the characters faced in the book are still faced by a number of people today, since the problems of racial inequality, poverty, and disabilities are still quite relevant, no matter the time period. Though we live in a society that is supposed to be progressive and understanding towards those who have varying limitations, such people are still not portrayed enough, and when they are, it is not done accurately. McCullers’s book is truly a masterpiece at accurately portraying the struggles of such people, hence the reason that it continues to be a success. Works Cited The Big Read, “The Big Readers’ Guide”, 20 Jan. 2009. 3 Dec. 2009 Fuller, Janice. “The Conventions of Counterpoint and Fugue in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter." The Mississippi Quarterly. 41 (1987):55 - 67. Gioia, Dana. "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Radio Show Transcript." The big Read. Arts Midwest, 2006-2009. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. . McCullers, Carson. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005 McCullers, Carson and Smith, Margarita G. The Mortgaged Heart: Selected Writing. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003 Read More