Poverty and Racism

A detailed Summary of Poverty and Racism

McCullers addresses poverty and racism of the 1930s South and also of the social and economic crisis that encompassed it during that time. The setting took place in a Southern town whose main economy came from cotton and saw mills and the time was during the Great Depression. Coming out in the 1940s, this novel reflected on the intolerance, poverty and isolation of the South. The characters all addressed at least one aspect of the society's cultural system.

During this time blacks, Jews, women and poverty stricken people were looked down upon and often times were thought of as inferior by the society they belonged to. These people also put roles upon themselves as seen with Harry Minowitz, a Jewish boy. He had sex with Mick and soon after felt bad and decided to leave town because of the role that he put on himself as a Jewish person. He though what they did was wrong and he couldn't live with the shame of it, so he left the town and pretty much adopted an out of sight out of mind perception (that's what I think happened anyway).

The novel addresses gender roles as seen relating to Mick Kelly. As the story starts, she refuses to be pampered like her sisters do to themselves and she refuses to be lady-like. She dressed like a b

Biff Brannon, the owner of the cafe, is in a marriage where he feels no real love and support. "It wasn't always this way," he had said. There was a time in their relationship where there was love and compassion but like a burning candle, it eventually faded. For this reason, perhaps, he focused his attention on Mick Kelly and the other characters as he attempted to love and understand other people, while he himself searched for love within. He developed feelings for Mick but got over them as the story progressed. In Chapter 3 or Part 2, he realizes his feelings and after his wife dies, he thinks of Mick as being boyish and longs to be a mother, perhaps to feel love and protection and also for security. He would always have someone to care for him and toward the end of the story he develops a general sense of love, for all people, like a motherly figure would.

The novel also addresses race and economic injustices. Dr. Copeland feels that all African Americans should unite and reform the way things are in the society and how it acts toward them. Jake Blount, an idealistic workingman and social reformer, brings in aspects of Marxism and wanted to change things for the betterment of the working class.

When I reflect on the title of the book, I think of someone or something searching for love. The word "heart" often symbolizes love and compassion. The words "lonely hunter" leads me to believe that the person's desire to feel love, acceptance and compassion leads them to search for it. For whatever reason, the characters don't feel these things so they hunt for them like a lonely hunter who would seek game in order to survive.

To me, this passage shows that she didn't want to have sex but it appeared that he did because it's like he conned her into getting down there with him. At first they were just down there laying down...of which was done by his invitation...and then they were talking. The logic just doesn't add up. And then after they do have sex he puts her through a spin by saying that he was sorry that they had sex...so if she wanted her first time to be special...well that was all shot to heck.

In Chapter 15 of Part 2, Mr. Singer says that he doesn't understand what they're talking about but he agrees with them anyways. After his suicide their existence is lost. Mick gets a job. Her hopes and dreams are crushed and the music within her heart is

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Mick Kelly's, Mick Kelly, Dr Copeland, Spiros Antonapoulos, Alice Jake's, Minowitz Jewish, Depression Coming, Biff Brannon, , Lancy Davis, dr copeland, mick kelly, jake blount, jake blount dr, search acceptance, feel love, hopes dreams, whatever reason, today's society, love compassion, didn't care, blount dr copeland,

Approximate Word count = 1603
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History