I had planned to write a post about how Carson McCullers reincarnated Harper Lee's Scout Finch in the character of Mick Kelly. But a little research shows that Mick predates Scout. And a little more digging shows there's a little of Carson in Mick. So perhaps it's fair to say Carson is the original "pass the damn ham" Scout Finch. Though she's a lot more complex than an adolescent tomboy.
In a profile of McCullers, aptly titled, "A life of Confusion," Kelly Geissler explains, "Through her life Carson McCullers experienced loneliness, sexual and emotional confusion and pain that lead her to writing peices of America's greatest works that will be cherishd by all in a world she helped to bring closer together."
On page 51, Portia, the Kelly's maid says to Mick...
But you haven't never loved God nor even nair person. You hard and tough as cowhide. But just the same I knows you. This afternoon you going to roam all over the place without never being satisfied. You going to traipse all around like you have to find something lost. You going to work yourself up with excitement. Your heart going to beat hard enough to kill you because you don't love and don't have peace. And then some day you going to bust loose and be ruined.
(Mick's little brother interrupts)
"What Portia?" Bubber asked. "What Kinds of things does He [God] eat?"
Mick laughed and stamped out of the room.
-- The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
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About Me
- Hummingirl
- Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Things you should know. I like to write, box, nap, read and be read to--mostly fiction, the kind of books that play like movies in your head, whether awake or asleep. I need at least a couple spoonfuls of organic crunchy peanut butter each day to function. Every, every day. And to answer your question(s): half-full, dogs, mornings, summers, and more than one. I write for findingDulcinea. (Header photo: pixonomy Flickr photostream/CC)
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