In Carson McCullers' best short stories, you'll find a variety of main characters. There are often those who are on the fringes of society, like the disabled or the socially awkward. Some characters might be artists or dreamers who find it difficult to connect with the more practical, mundane world around them. For instance, in one of her stories, there could be a reclusive painter who has a unique view of the world but is misunderstood by those in his small town. These characters are complex and full of contradictions, which makes them so interesting to read about.
The main characters in her best short stories are usually individuals with some form of inner turmoil. They can be women facing the constraints of a patriarchal society, or men who are lost in their own self - doubt. There are also characters who are in search of love and acceptance but are constantly thwarted by their own insecurities or the unforgiving nature of the world they live in. Each character is carefully crafted, and their relationships with others in the story are often fraught with tension and unspoken emotions.