Carson McCullers’ novel “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”, first published in 1940, presents a multifaceted view of Depression-era America. The novel follows five individuals who live in the small industrial town of Franklin, Georgia and whose destinies intertwine to form a poignant story of human connection and disconnection.
The novel opens with a description of Singer, a deaf-mute who resides in a rooming house in the center of town. Despite his inability to communicate verbally, Singer's thoughtful and kind nature leads him to become a confidant and friend to everyone around him who, in turn, seek solace in sharing stories and secrets with him. The first two characters to come to Singer are Mick Kelly, a 15-year-old girl who yearns for a life outside of her economically dead end town, and Jake Blount, a hot headed labor organizer whose political ideals and passionate speeches captivate Mick.
Mick’s family consists of a hard-working father, a devoutly religious mother, and her three siblings. While her mother’s faith provides her family with a sense of stability, Mick’s own view of the world is larger and more dynamic. She eventually begins frequenting the public library, where Biff Brannon, the owner of the local diner and yet another of Singer’s close friends, introduces her to philosophy and great works of literature. Despite her family’s decreasing finances, Mick’s thirst for knowledge compels her to continue visiting the library, and by novel’s end she has developed her own distinct set of ideals and views on life.
Meanwhile, Jake Blount is an inseparable friend of the doctor’s daughter, Portia, who resides in one of the upper-class neighborhoods in town. Portia feel isolated by the limitations of her upbringing and is drawn to the revolutionary and passionate views of Blount. Although the two do not share a romantic relationship, they share in each other’s beliefs and encourage each other's individual growth throughout the course of the novel.
Mr. Antonapoulos, a Greek immigrant and childhood friend of Singer's, is the fourth citizen in the novel. He is mentally handicapped and, like Singer, uses his kindhearted nature to befriend the other characters. His presence in the novel serves as a reminder of the deep emotional connection that Singer has to the people around him, and the emotional impact he has upon them despite his inability to communicate through words.
The fifth and final character in the novel is Doctor Copeland, an educated black man in the town. Despite his brilliance, Dr. Copeland is limited by the racial prejudice of his time and feels isolated from both the black and white populations of the town. Despite the fact that he’s close to Singer, he has no-one else in the world to turn to, and the novel ends with him struggling to acclimate to the realities of life in a segregationist society.
Through its five principal characters—Singer, Mick, Blount, Antonapoulos, and Copeland—McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter illustrates the enormous rewards and pitfalls of human relationships. Although these characters come from completely different backgrounds and experience various levels of success in their lives, they all manage to come together to form a powerful and meaningful bond.
Carson McCullers’ critically acclaimed novel offers a profoundly resonant and affecting story of friendship and longing in the face of a changing America. By presenting characters with diverse backgrounds, struggles, and desires, the novel paints a vivid portrait of how often the comfort and solace of a relationship can come crashing down against the backdrop of an unjust system. In this way, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter provides an enduring commentary on human nature and connection that continues to inspire readers eighty years later.
