for. When he asks if everyone understands, they replythat they do. This makes him wonder if they are answering this way just to please him. Heeventually turns to Mr. Singer for understanding. Dr. Copeland thinks Mr. Singer is wiseand understands “the strong true purpose in a way that other white men could not” (114).Mr. Singer admits in a letter to Antonapoulos that he in fact does not understand. John Singer is another character who feels a need for understanding. He is adeaf-mute that everyone else seems to turn to when they need to vent their feelings. Singerdoes not communicate often unless by pen. He usually watches what everyone else has tosay. Singer is in need of understanding just as much as the other characters but has no onewith whom he can share his feelings. His deaf-mute friend, Antonapoulos, seems to be theonly person who he can really “talk” to even though he does not quite comprehendeverything Singer tells him. Singer and Antonapoulos have been friends for ten years andalthough Antonapoulos does not attempt to communicate with Singer unless he is hungryor sleepy, Singer continues to tell him everything that is on his mind. Singer assumes anunderstanding in Antonapoulos. In his letter to Antonapoulos Singer tells him, “I do notunderstand, so I write it to you because I think you will understand” (184). He also tellsAntonapoulos that he wants to see him because “I am not meant to be alone and withoutyou who understand” (185). McCullers’ characters have the need to be understood. Most think they findunderstanding in Singer, a deaf-mute who really understands nothing. Singer thinks theonly one he can communicate with is Antonapoulos, his deaf-mute friend who is usuallyinterested in everything but what Singer has to say. Throughout the novel, thesecharacters search for something to fill their feelings of loneliness and rejection but in theend never find it...
