The Ballad of the Sad Caf by Mac Cullers

INTRODUCTION: Author: Title: Time of publication: Type of book: Summary: Situate the extract (in terms of ACTION/EVENTS) Summary of the extract ANALYSIS: 1. Thematic analysis or 2. Linear analysis Im going to do a linear analysis of the 3 main themes Ive divided my text into three main parts Conclusion ! on line, to start with, to conclude with,

Carson Mac Cullers is an American novelist, short story writer, dramatist and poet. The Ballad of the Sad Caf (1943) is generally considered one of her best works and her most successful exploration of her signature themes: loneliness and the effects of unrequited love. It tells the story of a small town caf owned by Amelia Evans at first the building is a general store. But change comes to town in form of CL, a hunchback. He softens the hard-edged woman and helps her to turn the store into a caf. But trouble and ruin arrive with her ex-husband Marvin. He ransacks the caf, steals the money and leaves Miss Amelia alone by taking CL along with him.

The Ballad of the Sad Caf by Mac Cullers

1. Character analysis: Miss Amelia as a young woman a) Physically: dark, tall, hair cut short, cross-eyed, like man b) Skills: handmade, store, make money out of people c) Personality: cares nothing for love of men, solitary, <3 money, independent, uncommunicative, selfish, clean, imagination d) Relation with hunchback: H says cousins, A <3 him ? e) Store, office: tidy, warm f) Doctor: makes good job, doesnt want to see children suffer, doesnt hesitate to use the most dangerous cures g) CHANGE OF ATTITUDE: BEFORE NOW Always alone, no family Hunchback, love Patience stand up and closes the door Shouts if people look in house Selfish (with everybody) Generous Lonesome person Afraid to be let down Very strict, unsociable More sociable, tolerant Sadness Happiness?

2. Character analysis: Marvin Macy his evolution in the ballad a) Physically: tall, curly hair, handsome b) Personality: bad killed a man, seduces all girls c) Family: 7 unwanted children, terrible parents Mrs Mary Hale d) Amelia: changed him (sang to express love, good manners, good person with everyone) e) After marriage: bed Amelia stomped down angrily, MM was in a sorry fix, unable to bring his bride to bed with him, presents (ring, box of candy) to prove love gave all money he had saved, evening: drunk Amelia hit him relationship ended (10 days) war was declared, became a criminal, penitentiary f) Marvins arrival light darker and darker, atmosphere heavier and heavier, Cousin Lymon follows MM around the town, goes into her yard

The Ballad of the Sad Caf by Mac Cullers

3. Loneliness and social life

4. The theme of love: analyse the triangle relationship present in the ballad: -Miss Amelia, CL, Marvin Macy (lover or beloved) -Love= force, often strong enough to change peoples attitudes and behaviors -Love= not necessarily reasonable or understandable to others -Love= central theme -Marvin Macy LOVES Amelia love changes him in a gentle person -Amelia LOVES Cousin Lymon he teaches her how to love (like he taught Marvin) -Cousin Lymon LOVES Marvin he wants to be this man in his behavior -Tragic: no one succeeds at loving or being loved in return novel represents the impossibility of reciprocal love

The Ballad of the Sad Caf by Mac Cullers

5. The use of symbols in the ballad:

6. The gothic element: -Style of art, form of novels, painting, architecture, music -Relating to the Goths, their civilization, their language -Goths battles with Roman Empire separated into 2 groups, reached the height of their power 5th century -Gothic= type of novels they take place in Gothic-styled architecture (castles, abbeys) -Reaction against the formality of Romantic literature -Include: terror, mystery, supernatural, ghosts, death, secrets, -Combination of: Castle, ruined buildings (melancholy), underground passages, spooky, labyrinths, dark corridors, winding stairs, shadows, flickering candle -Hero: -true ID is revealed by the end of the novel -Passion-driven -Curious heroine with a tendency to faint -Usually isolated -Plot: ruined world, end: protagonist must be saved through a reunion with a loved one -Themes: Anti-Catholicism, Medieval past, melodrama, parody, Connect on a human level: murder, sin, unknown fears in life -Omens, magic, horrifying events -Critic: Gothic novel let our hidden emotions come out -SOUTHERN GOTHIC -Focusing on issues of love, sexuality (also supernatural, unusual events) -Grotesque, macabre -Modern Southern writers: Carson McCullers -Pessimism in the fiction