Narrative Techniques in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

It is the enigma that plagues us and questions the very foundation on which the concept of free will stands; why? Do I make my own decisions, my own choices and effect my future self, or am I chained to fate, part of a well oiled greater plan, set to the path of my own destiny. This concept of fate or alternatively autonomy is a highly debated, discussed, and contemplated topic. It is unlikely that any scientific conclusion will be made on the subject, nor any opinion widely accepted but people are determined to make up their own minds. Authors, and the everyday man alike, have their own thoughts on the topic, but none more erudite or poetically argued than Carson McCullers?, author of The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe. The story she presents is an intriguing and metaphorical tale, laden with hidden messages and meanings, the most profound of which is the text?s support of the concept of fate and the fact every thing is already mapped out. Carson McCullers efficiently developed this through the stories strong use of narrative strategies, techniques which promote and provoke ideas that allow us to deduct the text?s ultimate meaning.

The most significant, and obvious contributor to the development of this meaning is the use of a frame at the start and end of the text. By placing this ?frame? that shows how the story will end, at the start, it promotes a notion that the end is already set and planned before the story begins. It shows that the sequence of events, however they should occur, will inevitably end in this manner and nothing can prevent it.

(from the start of the text)
?The town itself is dreary... a miserable main street some 100 yards long... The town is lonesome, sad and like a place that is far off and estranged from any other place in the world... The largest building in the centre of the town is boarded up completely and leans so far to the right it seems bound to collapse any minute.?

Along with the frame, weather patterns are used to illustrate the role of fate in the text. The weather is used to predict, relate, or sometime even dictate the moods of the lead characters within the story. This shows that greater factors have control of the town and are attempting to guide the action into it?s decided ending. The weather and features of the natural landscape play a symbolic role of a greater being, as the weather is often associated with the control of a supreme being, or God.

?Marvin Macy brought with him bad fortune, right from the first, as could be expected. The next day the weather turned suddenly, and it became hot.?

This illustrates how the characters and people interact with the weather. They present no control over the weather, as that would be impossible, so rather it can be assumed the weather controls, or mimics them. In the case above the evil character, Marvin Macy brings with him ?bad fortune? and hot weather. Temperatures synonymous with evil and more often the devil. This heat makes the town uncomfortable, just as Marvin Macy does presenting an undeniable, yet inexplicable link between these factors, obviously they are under some other control or some other plan, fate.

Perhaps though this controlling factor, destiny, should become a physical manifestation. An impartial character following some greater plan or a servant, hired to ensure all goes to schedule. This would explain some of the more odd and bizarre characters which inhabit the town, and most obviously the hunchback. McCullers use of odd characters then also aid in the construction of the text. Numerous symbolic references point to both Macy and Lymon as supernatural characters, place within the town with some set goal. Primarily Cousin Lymon falls under these criteria, issues such as the fact he does not know his age and his inability to relate or carry out normal task further support this. On a general summary of his character Lymon comes across as a child, scared of the dark, concerned by little issues, and easily upset when he does not get his way, common traits of an immature child. This promotes an idea that perhaps Lymon was specifically created for this event and carries little other life experience.

?There was something childish about his satisfaction with his painting. And in this respect a curious fact should be mentioned. No one in the town, not even Miss Amelia, had any idea how old the hunchback was. Some maintained that when he came to the town he was still a child about twelve years old... it was impossible to guess his age... When questioned directly about his age, the hunchback professed he had no idea how long he had been on the Earth.?

This quite supportive quotes proves this relatively well. At the start of the quote it illustrates his childish nature, while the rest suggests his inhuman nature. Many suggested that he was but 12 when he reached the town, but know he was surely older than that, it was as if he aged much quicker than normal. Furthermore when questioned on his age he was unaware of how long he had been alive, an even more suspicious fact. What makes this even more profound is his use of the world Earth, as if suggesting he knew his age but was unsure of the amount of time spent down, or up for that matter, on the earth, rather than his supernatural position.

While we have covered three pivotal points that aid in the construction of the meaning that life is planned and out of our control within The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe, we have berley scratched the surface of this intricate and quite eloquent story. The author?s brilliant use of numerous narrative techniques that all aid towards the development of this deep and prudent meaning is an achievement to be admired. The excellent element of the story is that the whole text contributes to the meaning of the book, giving the story meaning and purpose which keeps the reader entertained and involved, all while promoting a deep inner meaning. By completing the book in this manner Carson McCullers has created a classic story that will be cherished years into the future, not only for it excellent story, amazing symbolism, extreme characters or brilliant subtext but for the meanings of destiny and fate, that would hopefully further educate you and take you one step closer to answering that question that plagues us all; why?