The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe Throughout the novel The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers, there is an evident recurring theme. Ever-present in the story is a feeling of unrequited love, illustrated through looking at the parallels of the intertwined relationships between threeseparate individuals. Miss Amelia Evans, Cousin Lymon Willis, and Marvin Macy, are theplayers involved in this grotesque love triangle. The feelings they respectively have foreach other are what drives the story, and are significant enough that the prosperity ofentire town hinges upon them. First to come of the couplings between these main characters, was the 10 daymarriage of Marvin Macy and Amelia Evans. Previously notorious as a womanizer andtown miscreant, meeting Amelia made Martin wish to be a better man. He cleaned up hisact, and devoted his entire attention to his love for Amelia. Amelia, however, felt noconnection with this man, and sought a relationship only out of economic advantage. When this finally became clear to Marvin, when he was once and for all removed of theillusion that his love was returned, it was already too late. Amelia had stripped him ofeverything he owned. He took refuge in criminal activity, and was sent to prison. Hislove was not returned, and he suffered greatly for it.Many years down the line, there came into Miss Amelias life a man named LymonWillis. He was a distant cousin, not to mention a deformed hunchback, yet this did notstop Amelia from falling for him. Amelia catered to his every need, giving him everythingshe could possibly offer him, as Marvin had once done for her. In return for all her efforts,Lymon was very ungrateful. He didnt necessarily offer nothing in return, as merecompanionship was of crucial need to Amelia, but he definitely took advantage of herfeelings. Instead of loving her back, instead of being eternally grateful for her treatment ofhim, Cousin Lymon chose to betray her. He chose hi...
