The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

How do the themes of the poem “The Lonely Hunter” compare with the themes of the novel? Why did McCullers choose the work of a Scottish poet to represent a story of the American South?

Although McCullers divides her chapters to focus on individual characters, her central protagonist is John. Why does McCullers highlight John as the central character? 

How do Bubber and Mick’s coming-of-age stories parallel each other? How are they different? What does McCullers imply about the future of these characters?