McKeska 1

Kelly McKeska
Mr. Williams
English 2 Honors
10 January 2015
Overcoming The Obstacles of Life
Fear. Everyone has it. Fear is an emotion induced by a threat perceived by living entities,
and can not be avoided in our lives. However, we as human beings often times find ways to cope
with our concerns and search for a purpose in our lives to develop our mindset and grow past
those fears while discovering ourselves and our true identity. In Loneliness An American
Malady, Carson McCuller explicitly conveys the theme of how it is an essential part of life to
overcome our fears in order to discover ourselves individually by incorporating many compelling
factors with a well-established use of tone. Tone gives a voice to the piece of writing, both
literally and figuratively and is used by the author to express her opinion and emotions that are
tied within the text. In Loneliness An American Malady, the author states After the first
establishment of identity there comes the imperative need to lose this newfound sense of
separateness and to belong to something larger and more powerful than the weak, lonely self
(McCuller 1). The authors use of this sanguineous and reflective tone shows the emotion of
McCuller and her view on the concept of loneliness as well as self-discovery. For most
Americans, the notion of being alone can become a very painstaking experience but it may seem
that this situation is an inevitable part of life. It requires the acknowledgement of ones genuine
identity before someone can realize that they belong to a group or something larger than
themselves. The road to self-discovery and belongingness gives out the impression that it takes a

McKeska 2
conscious effort for these endeavors to take place. Although being apart of something larger than
merely oneself is critical, people discover themselves individually and the decisions we make are
ultimately determined by ourselves. In the piece of writing, McCuller states, We wander,
question. But the answer waits in each separate heart-the answer of our own identity and the way
by which we can master loneliness that at last we belong (McCuller 1). Loneliness is often
feared or avoided because it is associated with isolation or abandonment, however it may provide
the necessary setting for spiritual search and attempt to understand life's meaning. McCullers use
of this optimistic and hopeful tone gives the reader a sense of direction and guidance, showing
how each individual has self worth and a purpose, although it is our job to find it.
Through the compelling use of tone, McCuller is able to convey the social affliction of loneliness
with the never ending search for ones true individuality as well as the importance of selfdiscovery.