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Miss Lonelyheart Chapter 1 Analysis

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Their hands were covered with slimy blood and the lamb slipped free. It crawled off into the underbrush... After some time had passed, Miss Lonelyhearts begged them to go back and put the lamb out of misery. They refused to go. He went back alone and found it under a bush. He crushed its head with a stone and left the carcass to the flies that swarmed around the bloody alter flowers." (23-24) Every devout reader can admit it: This book is heavy. This passage exemplifies the verisimilitude of the novella set in the Great Depression and also displays a main theme; The collapse of Christian faith in this era was evident in the characters affected by the Great Depression. Let's dig deeper. Simply by glancing at the passage, it is stark obvious that this is a reference to the Bible. The lion and the lamb. Satan and Jesus. Taking that perspective, Miss Lonelyhearts killed the lamb, does that make him the lion? Or is the lamb his faith? These questions are answered with contextual evidence. Christianity, in this instance, is the lamb, Christ, Himself. Miss Lonelyhearts and company symbolize depression, financial struggle, sickness, the Great Depression as they mutilate this innocent lamb, the Christian faith. The Great Depression slaughtered the Christian faith in those who needed it most. …show more content…

Miss Lonelyhearts' sole job is to give hope to those who need it and his job is in very high demand. He describes the number of letters he responds to on the daily as exponential, increasing hourly. If his job is used so much, it is because people feel the despair of the struggles faced during the Great Depression. Normal civilians felt so distinctly alone that they abandoned a hopeful religion that warns of worldly matters for a mortal voice, Miss Lonelyhearts. Miss Lonelyhearts becomes their idol and their Christianity dissolves into a misguided Christ

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