"His eyes were fixed on a window on the right side of the second story. This was their front room, and behind was the big kitchen where Ant. had cooked all their meals ... He thought of them going out together in the morning and coming home at night. There was the broken place in the pavement where Ant. had stumbled once and hurt his elbow. There was the mailbox where their bill from the light company came each month. He could feel the warm touch of his friend's arm against his fingers" (206-207).
Throughout the novel, Mick, Copeland, Biff, and Blount all go to Singer to discuss their lives. They use him as an outlet for their loneliness, as a way of coping with their emotional pain. Talking to these people becomes a way for Singer to cope with his own loneliness: "It was better to be with any person than to be too long alone" (205). However, his loneliness is not fully subsided; he still grieves with the pain of separation from Ant. He writes to Ant. and calls him "my only friend" (213). How is Singer different from the other characters in his ability (or perhaps inability) to cope with loneliness and isolation? How does this foreshadow the end of part 2, when Singer "brought out a pistol from his pocket and put a bullet in his chest" (326)? Why does McCullers choose to leave out so much about Singer's emotions until now?
Also note Singer's comment about his hands: "They would not rest. They twitched in his sleep, and sometimes he awoke to find them shaping the words in his dreams before his face" (206). What is the significance of the fact that Singer's only method of communication is beginning to fail him?
I don't think that Singer's twitching hands is a sign that his "only method of communication is beginning to fail him". I think that it is a sign that Singer has a strong need to communicate his thoughts just like everyone else. His mind is restless. Singer needs to find companionship, but he prevents himself from doing so by keeping his hands stuffed in his pockets all day. Imagine what it would be like to have all of these thoughts racing through your mind and not be able to communicate to anyone.
ReplyDeleteSinger is not like any of the other characters that we have met (besides Biff), regarding his need for communication. Just "everyone persists in thinking the mite was exactly as they wanted him to be" (224), Singer changed the memories in his mind about Ant "so that he remembered nothing that was wrong or foolish -- only the wise and good" (204). Furthermore, just as people do not care that Singer can't respond to them, "the fact that Ant could not read did not prevent Singer from writing to him" (212). The need for communication is just as urgent in a deaf-mute than it is is a alcoholic communist or a naive tom-boy.
And this is clearly evident at the end of Singer's letter to Ant: "I am not meant to be alone and without you who understand" (217). Even if Ant never responded, even if Ant treated Singer like dirt, even if Singer didn't see Ant for months at a time, the idea that there was someone to in the world to whom Singer could communicate with kept Singer happy. The idea of having someone to communicate with kept Singer alive. When that vanished, Singer had no one left. And look what happened.
Now the more important question becomes what happens to these four individuals when they learn Singer is dead. I wont predict that they all kill themselves (because that would just be too depressing), but I suspect that the result will not be joyous. There will be a lot of darkness.
I agree that "The need for communication is just as urgent in a deaf-mute than it is is a alcoholic communist or a naive tom-boy"(Mike).
ReplyDeleteI think it became apparent in Singer's letter to Antanouplous, if it was not before, that "[he does] not understand" the situation of those he talks to better than any of them since he is not above their sorrow, he suffers from the same "loneliness..he cannot bear"(216,217). What I think keeps these charcters so isolated is that they feel they are the only ones suffering, the argument between Jake and Copeland reveals they are unable to connect the plight of the worker to that of the black American, unable to reconcile any differences to see that they really share the same cause. I think, even though the reader is supposed to sympathize with these isolated charcters at least part of the time, Mick's sister speaks a partial truth when she calls Mick "the most selfish person in the world I've ever known.You don't care a thing in the world about anybody"(266).
Their greatest "friend" and obsession is Singer and only because his silence, to them, is equal to agreeing with everything they say. He is a reflection of their own wants and desires. Therefore, the only person they can really ever love is themselves.
Singer's suicide, I think has brilliant timing, even if he didn't plan it that way. He never goes agaisnt his beliefs about being "rude and not attending to teh feelings of others" he does soething much worse andmuch more lasting (216). The charcters failed to see that Singer shared there sorrows and he was much too polite to worry them with his own troubles over Antonuplous. However, he killed himself in a time when they were most vulnerable, just like when Antonouplous died whwn Singer needed himmost. With his suicide, Singer finally shared the pain of his loneliness and SA's death by making each of those who were supported by him feel exactly as he did.He became their SA. So for those who failed to remember his friend, even notice that he left, they are punished for their selfish and ignorant behavior. I too believe the result will be "less tahn joyous"(Mike). I think this is a stronger message than any anger or impatience Singer could have shown to those who needed not a true friend, but only a reflection of themselves.
I think Amanda brought up some great passages. The conversation between Jake and Copeland was so revealing about the nature of the characters. Neither of them really wanted to listen, they just wanted to vent like they do with Singer. And this is supported by the selfish quote.
ReplyDeleteI think your points are brilliant, Amanda! The idea that Singer "is a reflection of their own wants and desires. Therefore, the only person they can really ever love is themselves" is definitely a point that I feel we have all been dancing around, but not stating outwardly (Amanda). When Singer is suffering so greatly, needing someone to listen to him—to answer his own wants and desires he is left completely empty and “his hands…would not let him rest” (206). It is indicated that “the four people had been coming to his rooms now for more than seven months…He could not rest or be still” (205). This idea of restlessness comes up again. The restlessness in Singer very much foreshadows Singer’s suicide.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic lines I feel in this novel are when Singer is discussing his longing for Antonopoulos; such a terrible longing that it is maddening for Singer. He thinks “This was the friend to whom he wanted to tell things that had come about. For something had happened in this year” (204). Yes, he gained four acquaintances that came to his room often, but they could not fill the void that was Antonopoulos. The lines continued “He had been left in an alien land. Alone. He had opened his eyes and around him there was much he could not understand. He was bewildered” (204). He was surrounded by people that simply could not understand him the way he wanted them to understand him. Not that Antonopoulos could ever be categorized as a wonderful friend, but at least he seemed to genuinely like Singer, whereas the other four individuals obviously were using Singer (and this was obvious to Singer himself).
I know that we have been saying the four characters have all been using Signer, but have they really? Almost all of them had felt somethings towards him before they even had a "conversation" with him. Mick lets him into her "iside room" because she feels that "he was different" from the moment she met him (242). He is not just a person to talk to, but a person that she thinks about constantly. He is a person that she loves, but who cannot reciprocate her love. John Singer is Mick's Ant. She would not really get through her day if he wasn't there. He influences where she goes and what she does. She has only known him for 7 months, yet Singer knew Ant. for over 10 years. All these characters use Singer as their own Ant. and many of them freak out when he is gone. I can only imagine how Singer is feeling with Ant. gone. All he wants is someone to talk to. That is why "They twitched in his sleep, and sometimes he awoke to find them shaping the words in his dreams before his face" (206). He is dreaming about Ant. and communicating with him, just like Mick dreams about John. Therefore it makes sense that John would kill himself. He lost the only friend he had and is losing the only communication he has. Nothing can make up for that because no one is Ant and no one can replace him in Singer's eyes.
ReplyDeletethe first quote should day "inside room"
ReplyDeletesorry
I also think that McCullers does not leave out these emotions until now, I think that Singer shows these emotions everytime he is listening to someone. He either looks at the clock while talking to Biff and everytime his smile is described, it is fake. He was never happy and constantly thinking of Ant. I think that Chelsea's point of us being Biff is a really good one because we truly are. Just in the fact that Emma asked the question about mcCullers hiding the emotions. We were just as niave as the other characters, when really John's emotions had been there the whole time, no one really looked though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the points that have been made. Amanda your post about singer becoming a "reflection of their own wants and desires" is very interesting, and Claire your elaboration off of this idea is very well done!
ReplyDeleteI think in answering Emma's question : "They would not rest. They twitched in his sleep, and sometimes he awoke to find them shaping the words in his dreams before his face" (206). What is the significance of the fact that Singer's only method of communication is beginning to fail him?- I think he does sign language in the middle of the night because his main source of communication has been robbed from him when Ant. goes to the asylum. Imagine if you could "talk" with someone, and then your ability to speak is taken away. This is what happens to Singer, I don't think his means of communication are failing him, but that no one can understand and therefore his communication lack significant, understandable meaning. Singer misses Ant. so much it is greatly reflected in his signing in the middle of the night.
This just made me think of Ant. and Singer's relationship- going off of what was stated earlier as Singer becomes a reflection of desires and wishes for those who speak to him. Does Singer provide this same "reflection" for Ant? Interestingly i don't think Ant has many desires, personally I think he almost throws his life away, and literally leaves his best friend alone. He never makes an effort to preserve his friendship with Singer, so it causes me to question if their anything left in Ant. that Singer can in face reflect?
Liz, in response to your questions, I think that one of the main reasons that Singer resulted to giving up was yes, because Antonopolous left him, but also because at that point of abandonment, Singer is essentially on the brink of hopelesness. I also think the quote about his hands: "They would not rest. They twitched in his sleep, and sometimes he awoke to find them shaping the words in his dreams before his face" suggests something further(206). Like we discussed in The Road, the relationship between dreams and reality is a very complex one. When Singer slips into dreams he finds that he still cannot disconnect from his suffering in the real world. His hands literally reach for someone to listen to his problems too, but this is only "a torment to him" (206). McCullers also describes his hands as "only scrubbed..roughly with a brush two times a day and stuffem...back into his pockets" (206). SInger has given up on his methods of communication, so he is showing that there is no longer hope that Ant will listen. by hearing everyone else's problems but never being able to express his own, Singer is thrown into a life where it can be expected that subconsciously, he could feel less worthy than everyone else, like a slave to their problems.
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