Hugo January 10, 2003
Comp 9 Gokturk
Father & Daughter Relationships
The relationships established with father and daughter in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, and "No More Lollipops" by Debra Adams are similar and different in many ways. Mick's relationship with her father isn't bad, but at times it really isn't effective. They may be able to talk with one another, but their words never really get through to each other. With Debra, her relationship with her father is somewhat effective and when she grows older she seems to miss being daddy's little girl. Both fathers try to establish relationships with their daughters, yet they are each effective and non-effective in similar and different ways.
In The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Mick's relationship with her father isn't very valuable compared to other relationships. Her father is a very lonely man and can never ever really be able to have serious conversations with either of his children. One example of how their relationship is established between the two is that Mick, as a daughter always seemed to respect her father in many ways, even if his words never seem to get through to her. What I mean by this is that she grew up to admire her father a person. She always seemed to find time to speak with her father because she felt that it was necessary to show that she cared. Every time someone else in the family tried to speak with her she would run along, but when her father called her she would go and listen even if she wasn't important. One situation in which this was shown was Mick said, "No matter how much of a hurry she was in, she always had to stop when her Dad called." (pg.83) What Mick is saying is that, even though she always seemed to have something important to do, she always found the time to have a conversation with her father. Though it doesn't sound like much, with the relationship that Mick and her father had it was important. Another example of how their relationship was established was the fact that even though they had the time to be with one another, they never ever had anything to talk about or to say to each another. What I mean is that they may have been able to speak with one another, but they never ever really maintained a conversation in which they shared their feelings with one another. The two were never able to have adult conversations with one another. But I don't think that really mattered because Mick's father just wanted to be with her. One example of this in the story was, "Her Dad just stared at her. She could tell he didn't have any reason for calling. He only wanted real bad to talk with her." (pg.84) What this quote is saying is that, whenever Mick's father called her over he never ever knew what to say to her and all he wanted was to be with her so he wouldn't be lonely. Even if Mick found the time to see her father, it never really mattered because none of their feelings would ever get through to one another. Mick was never able to tell her father about her problems and how she felt about him as a person. It was as if she was taking to a complete stranger. An example of this was, "She stayed with him a good while that night. Even if she was in an awful hurry. Yet for some reason she couldn't tell him about the things in he mind-about the hot, dark nights." (pg.86) What this quote is saying is that she and her father never were able to establish a relationship in which they would tell each other about their worries and problems. They spoke to one another as if they didn't know one another. Mick and her father weren't able to reach out to each other and tell their deep dark secrets.
In the story of "No More Lollipops," Debra and her father were able to establish special bond and relationship with one another. Debra's relationship with her father seems to get through to her and she somewhat misses what they had with one another before she grew older and was "Daddy's little girl." Though her father seemed to have a different way in trying to get her daughter's attention, it always seemed to get through to her and the two would have a good time when they were with one another. One way how their relationship was established was that they would meet each other every once in a while during night, as if their little meeting was special and secret in a way. It would their time and their time only together. That time they spent together during those nights as a child were all they're to have together. One example of this was, "And I would try to hide my laugh, and he would give me a little grin that meant this was our little secret." This quote showed that by sneaking down at night with her daughter, it showed that their being together was special. It was their secret together and no one would have to know about it. It was only between the two of them. Another aspect that made their relationship unique and special for Debra was that her father acted to casually as if nothing had happened. She would joke and play with her and make her feel comfortable and safe. We see this situation in the story several times. One time was, “How did you get down here? I didn't hear you come down!" This quote showed that Debra's father would act as if nothing ha happened and everything was casual and normal, like it was supposed to be. He made her feel relaxed and at ease by using joke and humor. That was his way of getting through to her. It was those special moments that they had with each other that Debra seemed to miss about spending time every night with her father. Debra's relationship with her is one, which is special to her. Even though she has grown up and is know older she shows signs of how she misses the old times when she was Daddy's little girl. They were able to develop a special bond with one another. An example of this in the story was, "And how I wish, at those times, that I could be daddy's little girl all over again. But naturally there comes a time in your life, in everyone's life, when you must become your own person. You have to stop holding onto the past and grow up." Debra grew up as a little girl where she would meet her dad every night at the top of the stairs and at those times it was their time to be together. When she was a little girl her and her father showed a deep connection with one another. But now there are "No more hugs, mo more kisses, no more pride in his voice... No more toys, no more lollipops." What the two had then was a thing of the past now. But by showing that she still remembered all those times and loved to be her father it shows that her relationship with her father had an impact on her, which she will never forget. She misses what she had when she was a little girl. Debra's relationship with her father seems to get through to her and she misses it all over again.
Each girl within the two different stories was able to establish relationships with their fathers. The relationships that were established between the two are similar and different in several ways. The relationship between father and daughter are both similar in that they try to establish relationships with their daughters and seem to be very secretive about it. While Mick's father every so often quietly calls her over, Debra's father says something just loud enough every night saw his daughter could come down to spend time with him. Mick's father is lonely and it is because his children never seem to come to talk with him about their problems. Debra's father could show the same characteristic but that isn't really shown. But what is shown is that the two fathers want to connect with their daughters and speak with them, to show that they are there for them. But their relationships are also different in many ways. Though both fathers try to establish relationships with their daughters, one seems to succeed and one seems to fail. Mick's father seems to be the odd one out and on the other hand Debra's father is able to get through to her. Mick isn't able to reach out to her father and tell him her deep dark secrets. However, Debra's relationship wither her father seems to get through and she misses what they had before. Another difference is that Mick's father tries to establish a relationship with his daughter when she is a teenager and old enough to know what is happening in the world. So when Mick is older it is harder for someone to talk of their problems with their parents. Sometimes they feel scared and embarrassed. But with Debra's relationship her father established it when she was only a little girl, and that was the difference. By having a father daughter relationship earlier in her life, Debra's father was able to spend time with her daughter. But as Debra grows older the past is over and the relationship that she had with her father is kind of gone. Almost like Mick's relationship. They are similar in that once the two girls grew older they weren't able to have relationships with their fathers in which they could tell each other of their problems. When they were young they were able to have father daughter relationships because it probably didn't feel weird. But now as the two girls grew older, all of that stopped. But the difference is that Debra's seems to miss what she had with her father, but Mick was never ever really able to have anything with her father. She was often too timid. Mick was never really able to be Daddy's little girl growing up, but on the other hand Debra was able to have that relationship when she was younger and because of that she misses being Daddy's little girl. Mick's relationship never really got through to her, but Debra's relationship did. Both fathers try to establish relationships with their daughters, yet they are each effective and non-effective in similar and different ways.
The relationships established with father and daughter in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, and "No More Lollipops" by Debra Adams are similar and different in many ways. Mick is never ever really able to establish a good relationship with her father. They can never talk to one another about their problems and concerns. Mick seems too timid and holds back for some reason. With Debra, her relationship with her father is somewhat effective and was able to get through to her. What she and her father had was special to her. When she grows older she seems to miss being "Daddy's little girl." Both fathers try to establish relationships with their daughters, yet they are each effective and non-effective in similar and different ways.