The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter Character Analysis

Exercising an open mind, what do the words, enlightened, trustworthy, hopeful, understanding, and divine, trigger? For most people, these words bring the idea of a god or some celestial figure to mind. For the characters of Carson McCullers’ novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, these are words used to describe Mr. John Singer, a remarkable, yet complex, protagonist. The main characters find themselves in a lonely state due to profound personal struggles and, in turn, label Singer as a “godly” individual, the only source of “faith” they can find. Each character designs their own Christ-like version of a “god” through John Singer based on where they are mentally in their lives, although he rarely exemplifies these traits genuinely; his mind is ironically elsewhere – affixed on his own inspirational “godly” figure, Spiros Antonapoulos.
From the beginning of the novel, Mick Kelly, is a young character who feels the
need to find someone to rely on in her cold, isolated world. Mick portrays a tomboy with a passion for music and a future-oriented mindset; therefore, she is significantly different from other adolescent kids. In addition, the Kelly family is not a religious bunch, so Mick finds comfort in a man who seems to want to listen to her problems, such as John Singer. This concept parallels a lonely person who finds that desired loving comfort in a church by talking to Christ openly and trustingly. However, Singer is only physically present for Mick, not emotionally. Mick sees Singer as a father figure, like the Lord, but on a closer, deeper level. She feels as if she can connect with him because he is so reliable, conservative, and most importantly, non-judgmental – all aspects that could be related to a godlike figure. Mick’s version of her Christ-like figure in Singer is built on the basis that he is so trustworthy, a trait she cannot find in her siblings or “friends.” She knows her siblings do not much care for what she has to say about her music, first love, or future aspirations – all things that mean so much to her. So, finding someone who understands the importance of how sometimes “you just naturally want to keep [things] private, not because they are bad, but because you just want them [kept] secret” is meaningful to her (48). While Mick believes Singer is genuinely listening to her adolescent problems, he could care less about her tween issues and musical dreams, ironically. Most of the time, Singer rarely has ever heard of some of the composers Mick expresses great attraction for. Singer acts as Mick’s go-to person always available to listen with assured confidence and compassion, similarly to a lay person’s prayer time.
In addition to Mick’s constant reliance and assurance in Singer, Dr. Benedict Copeland shares a common view of an “anointed” Singer. Copeland’s goal in life is to see Blacks achieve their highest potential by constantly schooling them. He wants to see them work hard, reach their goals, and break through racial barriers that may interfere with their true purpose. He deeply feels the injustice that surrounds blacks and finds it as his duty to help them. However, Copeland feels that no one sees this but himself, until he meets Singer. Copeland sees Singer as an enlightened one, someone who actually understands the “true purpose” and comprehends the struggling need for help. A person’s god is an omniscient figure who does not need experience or certain knowledge to comprehend a person’s thoughts and immediately understand what they are thinking and their next move. This is exactly the role Singer plays for Copeland. Copeland explains how Singer “had talked to him as no other white man and had trusted him…[and] was a white man who was not insolent or scornful, but who just was” (333). Copeland saw Singer as someone unique and different. Try finding a white man who apparently understands racism and wants to work towards a fix. It would be a difficult task during the late 1930s, which is why Copeland admires and adores Singer’s empathy so much. Emphasizing on the word apparently, Singer sits and watches Copeland express his thoughts, but he does not do much more than that, ironically. As much as Copeland believes and depends on Singer for reliance and support, Singer’s mind is usually elsewhere – thinking of trips to see Spiros, memories of Spiros and Singer in their apartment, and hopeful wishing of Spiros’ compassion. More so, Singer’s characteristics of an all-knowing, understanding, compassionate figure sound mighty familiar when a lay person describes a holy god – all of which happen to bring comfort to Copeland. Along with being a considerate and empathetic godlike figure, Biff Brannon sees Singer more as underlying person who sees but does not speak or express opinions. Relating to Christ, Singer does not have to voice words to make a difference in someone’s life, and this is what lonely Biff learns about Singer and admires about him. Biff’s wife passes away in the novel, and not that Biff was entirely happy with his marriage, he does feel like a part of him is gone after her death. In a way, he also felt this loneliness before her passing. He fills this gap with Singer and his attentiveness and selflessness. Biff noted that “no matter what was showing [or being discussed], Singer watched each scene with equal interest” and kindness (110). He can simply be there for someone, as seen with many other characters, to make a difference. Singer was a backbone for characters in the novel, and Biff sees this clearly. In addition, Biff and Singer share the “accepting” nature. It is hard for these two characters to judge others critically, or if they do, they rarely mention the disagreeing mentality. The humbling characteristic may be labeled on Singer, as it would on Christ. However, this “humbling characteristic” is ironic because Singer completely misses this notation. People believe him to be meek and modest, as Christ; however, internally, his mind is not focused on helping people or being their supporting pillar. He does not understand how dependent the other characters are on him. This is what makes Singer such a complex character. Despite the irony and realistic thoughts of Singer, Biff’s godlike version of Singer includes someone who is accepting, humble, and not always in the spotlight – typically what a person looks for in a holy figure. Like other characters, Jake Blount views Singer as a godlike figure, who is there for him through any drunken circumstance or politically racial moment. Sometimes, violent Blount does not realize that Singer cannot physically understand what is being confided in him. Singer once notes that “Blount leaned across the table and the words came out as though a dam inside him had broke…his tongue was so heavy with drink and he talked at such a violent pace that [the words] were all shaken up together” (30). Singer attempts to mentally be compassionate for his friend, despite misunderstood communication. The Christ-like figure Blount creates in Singer listens with patience and exemplifies tolerance and forbearance. Personally, Blount ultimately wants to end the harsh capitalism around him and wants to have a revolution to fight for better social lives. He runs to Singer to express these thoughts because Singer simply “understands” like a higher being – or so Blount thinks he does. Blount directly expresses to Singer how he is “the only one in this town who catches what I mean… I (Blount) had been talking to you in my mind because I know you understand the things I want to mean” (28). This profound quote shows how much Blount relies on him, trusts in his help, and thinks Singer actually understands the “undisclosed knowledge” that he so highly respects. However, later in the novel, Singer reveals to Spiros in a personal letter that he had no idea what “secret” he miraculously understood that connected him so deeply to Blount. Ironically, Singer feels comfortable enough to disclose this misunderstanding to Spiros, but he cannot bring himself to inform the character (or characters) whom he is misleading. Keeping this in mind, reliance, moderation, and faith are vital keys in faithful relationships, especially between lay person and an ideal saintly figure, that Blount somehow finds in preoccupied Singer. With all the irony shown in each character’s relationship to Singer, it is important to note where Singer’s attention truly is and why he is not actually engaging in the “divine conversations” he is supposedly having. From the first page of the novel, Singer clearly has a profound affinity for Spiros Antonapoulos. In an unhealthy manner, Singer is obsessed with a man who does not show any reciprocation of love. Spiros, ironically, is a Christ-like figure for Singer because of how much Singer adores the Greek. Spiros is a rude, greedy, and a dirty character who shows no affection or gratefulness. Singer ignores the negative characteristics and pushes past these things to honor Spiros by visiting him, giving him food, and bringing him gifts. Throughout the novel, Singer is wrapped up in “those ugly memories [that] wove through his thoughts…like bad threads through a carpet” (243). However, Singer is intrigued and charmed by them. Singer could not get Spiros out of his head, and this is where his mind ultimately drifts during conversations others had with him. Flawed Singer was so enthralled by Spiros that he is just as susceptible and muddled as the other lonely characters, if not more. Clear indication that Singer looks up to Spiros as a holy figure is seen in Singer’s dream in Chapter 7 of Part 2. Within this clarifying fantasy, the four other main characters (Mick, Biff, Blount, and Copeland) are looking up towards Singer in a worshiping and attentive manner. Ironically, Singer is turned, has his back to them, and is paying the lowly, lonely people no attention. Singer, meanwhile, has his immediate attention affixed on Spiros and only on Spiros (260). This perfect image proves Singer could care less about the pointless conversations he has with the other characters. He is only worried about Spiros and giving attention to his “divine” being. Each character in McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter battles their own personal struggles and finds their comfort in a Christ-like figure portrayed by protagonist John Singer.
They are each searching for some type of divine understanding. Mick’s isolated childhood, Copeland’s need for racial assurance, Biff’s solemn and observant lifestyle, and Blount’s obnoxiously drunk political views lead to lonely ways of life and the desire for a bigger power to heal them. These four characters find what they are looking for in John Singer. Whether it be compassion or understanding, Singer attempts to portray these characteristics. However, internally, other things are going on for Singer. He cannot break away from the person he adores and loves. This ongoing internal conflict ironically contradicts the external labels being given to him. Others label him as Christ-like, but Singer sees Christ in Spiros. This hunt for divinity by characters, who cannot manage to find their own true selves, makes this novel an analytical maze and spiral of lost
souls.