Literary Analysis of “Miss Lonelyhearts” written by Nathanael West

Introduction

Miss Lonelyhearts, a pure narrative work of fiction, is written by Nathanael West. It is the second novel of Nathanael West that published in 1933. The concept presented in the work basically highlights the expressionist black comedy. The story presents the conceptual perspective of Great depression age.

The era in which “Miss Lonelyhearts” was written is regarded as one of those periods in which severe economic crisis were observed in American economy. Along with that conflict state between countries was also creating a stressful situation for citizens. Nathanael West got inspiration to write on the topic from his friend when he showed him agonized, dismal, pathetic, letters he received for his column Brooklyn Eagle showed him some of the agonized, pathetic, illiterate letters he received. West was captured into the depth of situation and decided to write a novel plotting the scenes of the situation he observed (Bloom, 6).

Miss Lonelyhearts empowered the West to concentrate on the relationship, traps in career, impact on personality of gender, and associated responses that arouse in a person for his needs fulfillment and to overcome obsession that he experience in his life (Bloom, 11). Novel is seemed to be written in episodic form with comic strips that revolve around characters that are mark by indispensable symbols and mannerisms. For Nathanael West, psychology factor seems to be irrelevant for characterization of fictional plots. He emphasized on minimal dialogues and action to define the depth of novel characters possessed or were lacking. Overall, novel presents a psychological sensitivity that was affecting the mind of people in era of 1930s (Barnard, 18).

Literary Analysis of Miss Lonelyhearts 

Miss Lonelyhearts is a presentation of literary and social affairs of 1920s and 1930s era. A great change is observed in Miss Lonelyhearts compare to previous novel of Nathanael West. He brought the commercialized culture concept in the novel that presented the lifestyle, changes in personality, and incorporation of religious values in the novel text to form the structure of the document. Symbolic methods are used to similar to the writing pattern of other renowned writers such as Joyce and Eliot. Themes concept is added in the plot of novel to enhance value of presentation along with mythological archetypes to symbolize social reality and viciousness (Bloom, 48). Miss Lonelyhearts is in fact a presentation of narrow minded thinking concept that is revealed in the identity of the centre role of the novel i.e. Miss Lonelyhearts.

1930s era was considered to be an era of Great Depression, which form the social anger of West that is not directed towards the society but to the elementary elements which form the society that is people. Doubts were raised on the sensitivity of souls, real value of a person, and the cruelty expressed in the novel for internal satisfaction raise questions on the true human values.

Brief Overview of Plot

The novel revolves around the main character Miss Lonelyhearts who is male newspaper columnist in New York. Miss Lonelyhearts works as an advice columnist; however ...