Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Carson McCullers-1

1.2 Introduction to The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter-2

1.3 Research Status of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter-3

1.4 Composition of the Thesis-4

Chapter Two Loneliness in the Novel of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter-5

2.1 Loneliness of Singer-5

2.2 Loneliness of Mick Kelly-5

2.3 Loneliness of Dr.Copeland-6

2.4 Loneliness of Jake-7

2.5 Loneliness of Biff-8

Chapter Three Causes of Loneliness-9

3.1 Social Causes of Loneliness-9

3.1.1 The Social Background-9

3.1.2 Death of God-9

3.2 The Author’s Personal Cause of Loneliness-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

References-13

Abstract

Carson McCullers, born in 1917, is considered to be among the most significant writers of the twentieth century in America. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, one of her most representative novels, was a great hit in the literary world in America. It was published in 1940 when Carson was only twenty-three years old. 

The background of this novel is one of American southern towns. It describes the ordinary people’s lifestyle and their spiritual situation in the industrialized society in the middle of the twentieth century. It focuses on character’s consciousness such as their suffering, loneliness, spiritual isolation and anxiety. There are five characters in the novel: Singer, Mick Kelly, Dr. Copeland, Jake Blount, Biff Brannon. The novel pivots on the deaf mute called John Singer. All the other four characters cannot be understood by other people. They regard Singer as a “God” and pour out their hearts to him. Characters in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter are trying to escape from loneliness and find the existing meaning but all are in vain.

This paper mainly analyses loneliness manifested in the plot and in each character in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. In addition, this paper studies the social background and the author’s own experience when probing to the causes of loneliness presented in McCullers’ novel.

Keywords：Carson McCullers; The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter; loneliness