Question

In The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, the character Mick is more talented and sensitive than the rest of her poor family. She loves music but cannot attend music classes because of her family's financial condition, so she unsuccessfully tries to build her own violin. Based on this description, what does Mick's violin likely symbolize?


her attempts to overcome constraints


her hope to find enlightenment


her belief that her family will get rich


her faith in the future of her family

Answer 1

I would say the correct answer is A. her attempts to overcome constraints. She is constrained by social circumstances (poverty) and desperately tries her best not to let those circumstances mark her for life and make her unhappy. So, this violin is not just an instrument: it is a metaphor for a dream of a better world, where social mobility is possible.