The Lonely Existents-An Existential Study Of The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is written by Carson McCullers, who is one of giftedwriters in American South in twentieth century. And the novel published in1940whenCarson is only twenty-three years old, which is proved to be a great success. The novel takesone of American southern towns as its background. It describes the common people’s lifestyle and their spiritual situation in the industrialized society in the middle of the twentiethcentury. It focuses on character’s consciousness such as their suffering, loneliness, spiritualisolation and anxiety. All of them try to rebel against the painful situation and to find out theexisting meaning, but all attempts are in vain, they have to live lonely.The later period of1940s After the Second World War is just the time whenExistentialism is flourishing, especially in Europe. It is ten years later when Existentialismbecomes the main philosophy school in American gradually. So Carson introduces andspreads the Existential thoughts by her insight earlier in America by her works. Carsondiscusses individuals’ emotional experience in the absurd world and their quest for authenticexistence and life’s meaning in the novel.This thesis tries to analyze the Existential thoughts showed in The Heart is a LonelyHunter, which can help people understand Carson McCullers and the novel from a new angle.The thesis includes five parts. Firstly it introduces the writer, the novel, as well as herexperience that relates to existentialism. And then summarize the views of this thesis with thehelp of the previous studies. The chapter one deals with the existential experience and theemotional experience in the world. It discusses the absurdity of the world, alienation, anxietyand loneliness of the individuals, which can reflect the Existential thoughts. Chapter twoanalyzes the individual’s quest for existence or being so as to get rid of the absurdity,loneliness and such bad experience. They quest for personal identity in order to get the senseof belonging. They also quest for the meaning of existence by choosing freely and activeaction. The last chapter presents the result of their quest. The freedom of choice and actionare all proved any attempt is futility. Individuals are doomed to exist in the world lonely,which can reflects the notion “single individual” put forward by Kierkegaard who is the existential pioneer, and who points the only authentic existence is “single individual”. Soloneliness is not able to escape. What’s more, existing in the world is facing death as theschedule and all have to “being” towards death. When understand this one would better tomake a clear idea how to plan the whole life, and how to face life at ease and calmly. That iswhat McCullers and Existentialists express.Carson McCullers’ loneliness can not be get ride of no matter how to struggle. Shedisplays us the deep loneliness in one’s chest and their quest for existence constantly.