Because I wasn't in class today, I was left to figure out the meaning of the article on my own, so this might be completely wrong...but, I think that Madden's argument can be found in the line, " everyone hungers for human understanding while simultaneously desiring an inviolable privacy" (Madden 1). Throughout the article, I found that Madden suggests that individuality is less present as one grows older, and therefore, it sounded as if he was saying that one conforms to society as time goes on. This is certainly true for Mick as a character. Being a preteen (where we are right now anyways) she is on the path of self discovery, and wants her own voice to be heard. This is seen when she writes in chalk on the walls of the new home in town, and in the way that she dresses. According to the article, she is forced into a rapid maturity because of certain choices that she has made. Mick is shown at three different stages in the article: as a preteen, as an teenager, and then suddenly as a woman. I think the fact that McCuller chooses to demonstrate her at these different ages definitely supports the argument that Madden is making-Mick decides to be a part of society and act like a "normal" girl after her "sexual awakening". Previously she enjoyed the loneliness when she acted and dressed like a boy, but at the same time she wanted to tell someone about the loves that she had experienced. Mick's change over time supports the argument that over time people change and so does their character and personality.
Also, I was thinking that the fact that McCullers decides to use so many interconnected characters definitely demonstrates the idea of dependence on others during personal discovery...throwing that out there!
Larissa--something to think about: is Madden (and/or McCullers) saying that "sexual awakening" forces one to be MISunderstood or ones privacy to be violated? Is this a paradox of its own?
ReplyDeleteThe quote from Madden that you supply is definitely an accurate summary of the characters in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
ReplyDeleteThe character I want to focus on is Antonapoulos. From the very beginning during the description of him with Singer, we're able to see that he doesn't have very much going on with his life; the only person he ever seems to speak or interact with is Singer. Even though his poor understanding of English partially prohibits him from interacting with others besides Singer, we still never see him make an effort to try and belong in this society. As the narrator states, "excepting drinking and a certain solitary secret pleasure, Antonapoulos loved to eat more than anything else in the world," showing that he really does prioritize his own selfish desires over anything else (McCullers 2). He never seems to appreciate Singer's loyal devotion, even when Singer wastes his own money to bail him out of jail on numerous occasions. It only seems to be the little things like booze and food which keep Antonapoulos going, and we see this especially during the scene when Singer takes him out of the asylum for one night. After they finish eating at a diner where he gorges himself, Antonapoulos "would not leave," and Singer has to lure him to the cab with a bottle of whiskey. When he tosses the bottle out the window, Antonapoulos ends up weeping with "disappointment and offense," proving to be even more pathetic (94). Whatever small pleasures keep us somewhat happy eventually have to be abandoned if we ever want to fit in with society. If Mick had kept her reclusive personality and never attempted to act like a "normal" girl, she would have become entirely dependent on her dark alleyways and late night walks until she'd be completely detached from life, like Antonapoulos is when we see him here.
Kaare, I like your response.
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