John Singer - the Most Isolated

John Singer - The Most Isolated

Out of all the isolated misfits in Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, John Singer, the deaf-mute, the confidant, and the symbol of hope, is ultimately the most isolated character. Although Singer is constantly surrounded by other characters who confide in his gentle demeanor, he himself is isolated from the one character who can truly invoke his senses of satisfaction and belonging in the world. When Antonapoulos, Singer's "real" companion, was sent away to an asylum many miles from town, Singer was left hunting alone. He began "spending his evenings walking around the town. He could no longer stand the rooms where Antonapoulos lived, and he rented a place in a shambling boarding house far from the center of the town" (McCullers, 12) in hopes of finding people to fill his emotional void. Furthermore, even when Singer used to live with Antonapoulos or when Singer later visited Antonapoulos, the relationship has always been one-sided, in which Singer did the caretaking. Singer lacked a deep connection with Antonapoulos and he "never knew just how much his friend understood all the things he told him" (McCullers, 5). With neither the motivation for life associated with a purpose nor someone to understand him, Singer is the most insolated character.

Due to the fact that all the other characters have a sense of purpose and have Singer to "understand" them, they are not as isolated as Singer is. Mick Kelly belongs in a big house full of people who care about her - such as her father, Portia, her sisters - and Mick has a passion for music, a passion that allows her to escape to the solace of her dreams. Although Copeland no longer has a cohesive family, he does still have Portia's compassion, a purpose to bring justice to his race, and a passion for reading, and these elements help to fill his emotional void. Jake Blount, the communist radical, is driven forward by his desire to bring economical equality to town. Biff Brannon has a business that he enjoys managing, a hobby of collecting newspaper, and a sister he can connect with to alleviate his from isolation.