Despair in the Heart is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCuller's novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, is set in a small town in the Deep South during the mid-20th century century. The book closely follows a diverse group of five residents who are loosely tied together. They include Singer, a deaf mute, Benedict Copeland, a well-educated black doctor, Jake Blount, a politically zealous transient, Mick Kelly, a young girl, and Biff Brannon, a middle-aged man who owns a diner. As the book progresses, the characters find themselves in less than ideal circumstances. All the characters want something they can't have, and it gradually becomes clear that they don't have the power to get it. The outlook continues to become bleak for the characters as time passes. At the end of the novel the characters still alive find themselves with little hope and no happiness. Despair is a dominant theme and can be seen more clearly by examining each character's situation. All of the characters have loose ties to each other, but where all of their paths seem to intertwine most is in their relationship with Singer, the deaf-mute. The other four main characters all begin to confide in the singer early in the story and believe that he is the only one who truly understands them. The singer is a very kind person and is always there for his new friends. However, what Singer really wants is his former partner, Antonapoulos. Antonapoulos means everything to Singer, but they are separated when Antonapoulos is sent to live in an asylum. Antonapoulos is a very rough character in this book. All he seems to care about is self-gratification through food, drink, and whatever else he enjoys. While Singer demonstrates a very deep and real love for him, Anto... middle of paper... Instead he is an old man with no one left. This story had no fluff. It didn't have a happy ending. It wasn't uplifting in any way. It was a book about desperation and how tragic life can be. None of the characters find happiness. No one is saved from their misery. What makes this book powerful is that sometimes that's how life is. Sometimes there is no happy ending, sometimes there is no hope. It would be nice if it weren't true, but it is. And this book shows the raw side of life, the sad reality. Sometimes things don't go the way we want and sometimes we can't do anything about it. As depressing as the topic may be, it is important to realize that it is true. While optimism is usually admirable, too much can be ignorant. Despair exists. It can certainly be seen in real life and it can certainly be seen in this book.