The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Carson McCuller's The Heart is a Lonely Hunter has always intrigued me - if nothing else, just for the title alone. I am now disappointed that I checked it out of the library - because I want to keep it. I have this thing with books that I want to have my own copy and borrowing from the library or from a friend feels less like the love affair a good book should be and more like an illicit get together with someone else's partner.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter centers not only the lack of partnership, but the cutting isolation of the five main characters in the Depression - era south. Biff, Jake, Mick, Dr. Copeland all look to Mr. Singer for something that goes deeper than companionship and acceptance to affirmation and love, even while Mr. Singer, a deaf-mute, literally withholds himself from all but the object of his affection - who is a louse.

Perhaps most importantly, each of the main characters ascribe nothing short of godhood on Mr. Singer - which each of the four very different characters projecting themselves and their desires onto the deaf-mute. To Mick, Mr. Singer is one who understands the music like her, while Jake, a labor agitator, knows that Mr. Singer has communist and socialist sympathies just like him. Comically, Mr. Singer informs his friend that he simply cannot understand why these different people continue to seek him out as he does not understand what they say to him. Tellingly, each of the characters have dreams in which they are presenting nothing short of themselves to Mr. Singer (as God) for approval.

Ultimately, (needless) isolation results in tragedy.

I wonder how I have isolated myself. I wonder what I have projected onto God that is not really of Him - just what would make me more comfortable with him.

I am thankful for the gift of Christian community and for the witness of scripture to correct me when I am wrong.