In Part III, we see all of the character's reactions to Singer's death and how Singer's death affects them all within the course of one day. With each change in perspective (or chapter), McCullers includes a time frame going starting with Copeland in the "morning" moving to Jake in the "afternoon", Mick in the "evening", and ending with Biff at "night". What is the significance of McCullers providing a time frame as part of the setting/scene? How does this change or add to the portrayal of each of the characters, if at all?
Additionally, it seems to me that for each of these characters, the death of Singer represents the death of the possibility of expressing their identities that they "ha[ve] always kept to [themselves] and no person had ever known", other than Singer (52). For example, Copeland "wanted to sit up and speak in a loud voice -- yet when he tried to raise himself he could not find the strength" (336) despite the fact that he could tell the "truth" to Singer, and could speak in a loud voice (like when he gave that sermon in Singer's presence). Likewise, Mick's "inside room was locked somewhere away from her ...[and] it was like she was cheated"(353-354). It is interesting because with Singer's death, Singer would have to disappear in both her rooms- the outside(representing her self in society) and the inside (representing her self as an individual). However, if Mick's inside room is "locked", do you think Singer still exists in Mick's inside room? What does this say about Singer influence? Jake even says that "he remembered all the innermost thoughts that he had told to Singer and with his death it seemed to him that they were lost" (341).
In fact, it seems to me that the characters have just picked off living their life, from when Singer had "interrupted" them by entering Biff's cafe. What does this say about the nature of the characters? Furthermore, what do you think McCullers is trying to communicate about human nature through her characters?
I know I wrote a lot but they were just my thoughts as I was reading so you don't have to respond to everything :)
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I think that in many ways, Singer represents each character's ability to isolate themselves from society and a way to unsuccessfully cope with their loneliness. We have discussed thoroughly on other blog posts the effect of loneliness on each of the characters and how they either isolate themselves to escape loneliness or that their isolation is a large reason that they feel so lonely. However, after reading part three, I would argue that Singer himself only gave each character a way further to isolate themselves from society and even from their problems.
ReplyDeleteSinger, being a deaf-mute, provided an outlet for Biff, Blount, Mick, and Copeland to vent about their problems and the aspects of their lives that they weren't very happy with, however, I think it is somewhat contradictory to believe that Singer was a successful "outlet" because the characters weren't really addressing their problems when talking to him. Although, lets use the term "brain dumping," to Singer each day did allow for each character to express their problems, they never reached a solution by talking to Singer. Singer would not respond in a specific manner to any of the characters; he always sat there politely and "listened" to what they were saying, but he offered no feedback. The characters did not address the fact that they needed to solve the problems that they were "brain-dumping" on Singer. Even Singer claimed that these people weren't really his friends and that listening to them gave him an outlet to forget about his loneliness without Antanopolous (when he wrote to Antanopolous he addressed the letter to "[his] only friend"(213)).
In part three, we learn how the death of Singer affected each separate character, and I would argue that Singer's death almost set these people free from the bounds of isolation. In Copeland's case, Singer's death gave his family yet another reason to focus on Copeland's own disease, and how it was affecting the way he lived. Portia decided that her father should go and live with her grandfather; that would be a better place for him to regain strength and focus on himself: "Us have all done the best we know how. It entirely the best plan for you to go out with Grandpapa and Hamilton and Buddy. They going to take good care of you and you going to get well"(332). Copeland, however, does not want to leave; he is content with living alone, away from his family and from society. Copeland's desire to stay mirrors his acceptance of isolating himself from everyone else. However, Singer's death gives his family the final reason to move him out in the country, where they know he will get better and where he is no longer able to isolate himself from his family.
In Jake's case, Singer's death forces him out of the town. He believes that he will find himself somewhere else, somewhere where he can make his beliefs clear and perhaps that people will agree with him. At the end of his chapter the narrator states, "He reached the edge of town and turned off on a highway...as soon as the town was behind a new surge of energy came to him...the road ahead lay to the north and slightly tot he west. But he would not go too far away. He would not leave the South. That was one clear thing. there was hope in him, and soon perhaps the outline of his journey would take form"(350). It is evident at this point that he is aware of the difficulties in making a new life for himself, but he is also hopeful that doing so will have a better outcome, and that in doing so he can make something of himself.
ReplyDeleteAt first, Mick questions the plans she had made regarding music: "What good was it? That was the question she would like to know. What the hell good was it. All the plans she had made, and the music"(350), however, her attitude becomes hopeful after Singer's death really sinks in. She takes the responsibility of paying for the remaining installments of Singer's radio, which shows her determination to keep music in her life. Then she states, "And maybe one of these days she might be able to set aside a little for a secondhand piano"(353), which illuminates how music is still a large part of her life. She begins to make plans to broaden her knowledge of music, such as getting a piano. Despite her original pessimistic outlook on doing such a thing, by the end of her chapter, Mick is very hopeful of her future in music. She states, "But maybe it would be true about the piano and turn out O.K. Maybe she would get a chance soon. Else what the hell good had it all been--the way she felt about music and the plans she had made in the inside room? It had to be some good if anything made sense. And it was too and it was too and it was too and it was too. It was some good"(354). Mick is definitely looking to her future with an optimistic point of view, and she proves that she is serious about making music forever a part of her life.
Wow Celi's was really thorough!
ReplyDeleteThe only person left is Biff. I think its interesting that Biff is the charcter who is last to appear in the book as well as the charcter whose part takes place at night. This allows him to be the only one to see the rise of "the morning sun" (359).
Though Celi mentioned several lines that illustrated hope, I think, overall, I disagree that there is hope for these charcters just because of Biff's part. I think there really is no way to predict it.
Throughout this book we've been able to trust Biff, the group that studied his charcter even identified him as the "reader" with good reason since he seems to be analyzing th events that happen. We trust him and his outlook since it seems he is always right.
Biff, looking back at the events feels "his left eye delved narrowly into the past while thr right gazed wide and affrighted into a future of blackness, error, and ruin" (359).
Reading this we are persuaded to think that Biff has had some sort of epiphany, and too the reader, realizing that the complete happiness of these charcters can never be found, especially without Singer.Readers feel they have found the meaning of the book, that these charcters wants cannot be obtained.
But then in these last two pages we see Biff question whether he is even reliable, "a sensible man or ...not" (359). All of a sudden, we learn that its not a narrator thats unrelaible, but ourselves. We are "the reader" and we must question, all of a sudden, whether our interpretations are even sensible, whether we can really predict the hope of the future, or if by looking for connections between these people we've only narrowed their charcters.
McCullers throws her readers upside down in the end, making them question if they really understood the book at all, or if they even can.
Biff ends upnot coming to any conclusions about the notion that "something is wrong" that he brought up so many times. Instead he "soberly" looks to the sun, either the symbol of a hopeful new day or the bleak future, and seems to decide not to think about it or to care.
This is a bit odd, I hope that made some sense.
I think that both Amanda and Celi made some really good points about the character's reactions to Singer's death. But Celi mentioned that SInger was a "unsuccessfully cope with their loneliness". However, I don't agree. When Mick was "brain-dumping" on Singer, she was physically able to "sing it now whenever she wanted to" (120), Mick was able to create music and do what she wanted to do--which was make music. When Singer is dead, the characters are definitely become less isolated, but more constrained. For example, Copeland is unable to "find the strength" to speak "the words in his heart" (336).
ReplyDeleteI feel like McCullers is trying make a point of isolation allowing for the liberation of the individual versus societal inclusion(and receiving support and love from the people).
What do you guys think?
First off I would like to slightly disagree with what Celi had to say about Copeland. She said, "he is content with living alone, away from his family and from society", and while that is a fair assessment I would say it goes even farther than that. Unlike Mick and Biff who have stories that end on more hopeful notes it seems as if now that Singer has passed away Copeland has given up hope. We read Copeland's approval of Singer several times in the book, he saw him as a different and trusting person. Copeland liked Singer more than anyone it seems, "Pshaw! You come before me like a gnat. And I Ignore you", and, "I just feel that I have failed", are two things Copeland says to Portia on page 332. It seems as if Copeland rejects living with everyone else because now he dislikes and can't get along with anyone else. One of the last images of Copeland we see is, "Pshaw! Doctor Copeland said bitterly, "I believe in justice now" (336). He can't get along with the people should be closest to because of the beliefs he sees as ridiculous. Copeland's "Pshaw" filled ending is a depressing one.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to add to what Amanda had to say about Biff, because I completely agree that his ending was a happier one looking towards a new future. But in some ways I see his ending as having an air of indifference. "Between bitter irony and faith" he can't choose between life coming from a God or just being some pointless joke. And as the book ends and he makes the bar look better with just himself around I feel as if he is waiting for a new Mick or Singer or Jake to walk in and start a new "riddle".
I disagree with the fact that Biff's end is hopeful. I on the other hand thought that Biff was the only character without a hopeful ending. Copeland's end may seem depressing, in that he has given up hope for the society he lives in. However, Portia comments, "After the time you come to see us Father were so sick us expected him to die. It taken us a long time to get him able to sit up. He doing right well now. He going to get a lot stronger where he is now" (344). Copeland may have given up hope of his society, but at least his life will continue; though he may be struggling emotionally after Singer's death, there is still hope that he will have a future. Mick is growing up as well. Though she is rather unstable after Singer's death, she says, "Maybe she would get a chance soon. Else what the hell good had it all been - the way she felt about music and the plans she had made in the inside room? it had to be some good if anything made sense. And it was too and it was too and it was too and it was too. It was some good" (354). Even Jake leaves town, and journeys on : "There was hope in him, and soon perhaps the outline of his journey would take form" (350). Biff is the only one who seems stuck in the present time. He attempts to convince Jake not to leave, telling him to place his suitcase upstairs and wait until the weather subsides (345). As Jake leaves, Biff is seen "watching from the sidewalk" (349). In the last passage, Biff is "suspended between radiance and darkness" (359). If he does in fact have an epiphany when he sees himself in the mirror, it is short lived when he turns away from his reflection (359). He does not know where he is going, and questions whether his life still retains purpose as he no longer has anyone to love (357). Mick grows up, Jake leaves town, and Copeland starts over in the country, but Biff's journey ends where it begins: in the bar. Whether this is the point of the novel, I'm not sure, but I just don't believe that his journey is hopeful. He doesn't seem to transition anywhere, but rather end up in the same place where he started.
ReplyDeleteI know that a lot of people have been saying that Singer' death allowed for the characters to progress, but i think that he set them back. I don't think he helped any of them, not even Mick or Biff. Singer just came and went. He was there for a year, listened to them, gave them a form of hope or faith, and then killed himself. I really don't see that as helping anyone. First of all, he didn't actually listen to them. Most of the time he had no idea what they were saying to him. In reality, all of the characters are influenced negatively by Singer.
ReplyDeleteDr. Copeland "wanted to sit up and speak in a loud voice- yet when he tried to raise himself he could not find the strength. The words in his heart grew big and they would not be silent. But the old man had ceased to listen and there was no one to hear him" (336). Like Connor said, this is a really sad ending to our story of Copeland. He has stopped listening/believing in himself. He no longer has the strength to continue with his ideas and his beliefs. Singer took that away from him. Like Jake all of Copeland's innermost thoughts that he had revealed to Singer, "were lost" (341). I think this is really sad because Copeland had been very passionate about his beliefs and now he isn't. He can't even find the strength to listen to them anymore. Singer took this strength when he took his own life.
Like Copeland, Jake's innermost thoughts are also lost with Singer. "The emptiness in him hurt. He wanted to look neither backward nor forward" (345). Singer only momentarily helped him along. He cleaned him up and helped him start a new life, but now that Singer is gone, "it was up to [Jake] to get out of it by himself and make a new start again. At the thought of it panic came in him" (345). Instead of doing anything he kicks his feet up and rests his head back. He no longer has that motivational person, like Singer to help him. He lost all motivation when Singer died.
Mick no lo-nger has her dreams. SInger also took those with him when he died. "Now no music was in her mind...It was like she was shut out from the inside room" (353). Singer is the one who is shutting her out. He took away her dreams and now she cannot access them anymore. SHe is shut out of her own personal self like Copeland. "It was like the inside room was locked somewhere away from her. A very hard thing to understand" (353). It is locked away in Singer's memories. He leaves Mick confused and almost helpless. She does not know what to do and although she says she might get a piano, she still is not continuing her music at the moment. Right now she is helpless and Singer did that to her. The ending of her chapter is somewhat optimistic, yet she has to reassure herself, which is not so reassuring to the reader.
Biff, also like Connor says is just indifferent. "Between two worlds he was suspended" (359). He is just waiting for something, "a riddle" that he does not know (358). Singer id not affect him as much as the others because Biff did not really rely on him, but Biff relies on Mick and Jake and Copeland and Singer took them away from him. Biff was the one constant person that they could all rely on and yet none of them did. They all started going to Singer. He disappointed them in the end, but they could have chosen BIff and he most likely would have been able to help them. He wanted to. And that is why he is now indifferent. He doesn't really know what to do anymore because Singer kind of ruined them. That is why he no longer loves Mick. They have changed, in a bad way because of Singer.
All this talk about Biff made me think about the concluding passage to the novel. As McCullers closes the novel with Biff in the nighttime, she has Biff undergo a great epiphany. "For a swift radiance of illumination he saw a glimpse of human struggle and of valor. Of the endless fluid passage of humanity through endless time. And of those who labor and of those who-one word- love. His soul expanded..." (359). No other character has epiphanies like Biff does at the end of the novel, which automatically sets him different from the other characters. (Therefore making the argument for Biff being the reader even more provable). As McCullers concludes Biff undergoes a major change. His mind explores the human condition and the meaning of life and love. Interestingly however after he has such a great epiphany he "composed himself soberly to await the morning sun" (359). As if nothing had happened, Biff acts as though this epiphany is an everyday occurrence however we as readers can see that it only happens to Biff. Also if we look at form and content- it is obvious that the language used throughout this epiphany is much different than that of previous passages. The language is much more complex and beautiful where as earlier in the novel, language was often straight forward, concise and simple: "Doctor cCopeland felt the fever warm his veins" (183). This is much different and much less elegant when compared to the subtleties of "swift radiance of illumination" (358-359).
ReplyDeleteLiz