Question

According to Carson McCullers, how can Americans overcome their feelings of loneliness?

Answer 1

He states that Americans feel the need to go from being an “I” to being part of a “we”, in other words they want to be loved. According to him, as a nation we are an outgoing people, reaching always for immediate contacts. American overcome this feeling by socializing.

Answer 2

McCullers claims that the emotion of love can dispel the feeling of isolation and the fear of loneliness. She says that the quest for identity makes people question their very existence and purpose of their life. It is love from another person that offers solace and silences these haunting questions.

Love is the bridge that leads from the I sense to the We . . . Love is affirmation; it motivates the yes responses and the sense of wider communication. Love casts out fear, and in the security of this togetherness we find contentment, courage. We no longer fear the age-old haunting questions: "Who am I?" Why am I?" "Where am I going?”—and having cast out fear, we can be honest and charitable.

McCullers also says it’s the fear caused by these existential questions that can frustrate people and lead to racial hatred.

And when the question "Who am I?" recurs and is unanswered, then fear and frustration project a negative attitude. The bewildered soul can answer only: "Since I do not understand 'Who I am,' I only know what I am not." The corollary of this emotional incertitude is snobbism, intolerance and racial hate.

Therefore, loneliness and racism are rooted in personal uncertainty and existential fear. Love is the solution not only to loneliness, but also to racial hatred and self-consciousness.