On Tuesday we'll dig into Carson McCullers's novel, _The Heart is a Lonely Hunter_. This is the first longer work we're reading, and it will require a different approach attuned to the generic specificities of the novel versus the short stories that have thus far been our fare. We'll be spending the next three weeks with the book, so pay attention to how the story is set up, who its characters are, how they're introduced, and other important things that happen at the beginning of a novel.
Post your discussion questions below!
There are many times during Biff's talks that he never finishes a sentence, which usually ends with a "--." In terms of silence, what does this signify?
ReplyDeleteHow and why does McCuller present each character as isolated and yet the characters' paths all seem to cross? For instance, Mick is in a way isolated from her family and gender in that she doesn't seem to get along with them and would rather be "a boy any day". Singer is physically isolated in that he can't hear or speak. Blount is in a way isolated from society. And yet all their stories are intertwined. What is McCuller's purpose in presenting the characters in this manner?
ReplyDeleteIn addition, how does McCullers develop the traits and personalities of each character? For instance, what was his purpose in introducing Antonapoulos for ten pages of the novel? What did the interactions between Antonapoulos and Singer reveal about Singer's character?
All of the characters seem silenced in one way or another because they cannot clearly communicate their ideas. Singer appears to have the opposite problem: he silences himself and is reluctant to communicate. Why does Singer not want to communicate? Why did he only 'talk' to Antonapoulos?
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though Antonapaulus does not communicate as fluidly or effectively as Singer. Why might this be so?
ReplyDeleteIn what ways is Mick independent and mature, and in what ways is she still a child?
ReplyDeleteIsolation and silence seems to be experienced by every character in this story - "The mutual distrust between the men who were just awakened and those who were ending a long night gave everyone a feeling of estrangement"(39). How does this separation and silence come about, does it have to do with the "insidious conspiracy. Obscurantism?" (2). And what "truth is so obvious" that not many men know about it as Blount points out. Singer is mentioned to be intelligent and "very wise"(13), what wisdom is hidden in his silence?
ReplyDeleteWhy are the differences between Singer and Antonapoulos in refinement so extreme?
ReplyDeleteIn this novel, Singer is a deaf mute. Why would the novel be focused around such a character?
ReplyDeleteHow would the work change if McCuller portrayed Mick, Blount, and Singer as unsophisticated and inconsiderate characters instead? How might this reflect society of that time?
ReplyDelete-Tristan
Despite all other characters gravitating towards Singer to get their points across, why is it that Singer only seeks out Antonapoulos to communicate, even though Antonapoulos himself did not appear as interested in what Singer had to say?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the fact that Antonapolous is lazy and apathetic while Singer shows much care and communicates more?
ReplyDeleteSinger shows signs of greater intelligence than Antonapoulos, but when they walk to work in the mornings, Antonapoulos leads them. What makes Singer so willing to follow Antonapoulos?
ReplyDeleteIs there any significance in how the narrator describes Antonapoulos versus how he is perceived by Singer? What about the narrator's decription of Mick versus how she perceives herself?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the frequent labels for characters in the story: Greek, Negro, freak, hunchback, cripple, deaf/mute, etc.? What does it reveal about the characters and the setting of the story?
ReplyDelete-Fanny