Isolation In Edwin Arlington Robinson's Richard Cory

Isolation is defined as the state of being in a place or position that is separated from people, place or things. Many people identify with a desire to be isolated, despite science saying that people’s natural instinct is to gravitate toward others. Studies have shown that isolation is not good psychologically. Isolation can be voluntary or involuntary; however, whether it is with a human or an animal species, physical touch, communication, and emotional connection is necessary to survive in everyday life. In a number of literary works, isolation is seen as a theme among characters who are sick, mentally ill and those who are incarcerated to name a few. In the literary works we have read in this unit, the isolation of the protagonist, whether voluntary or …show more content…

While people physically isolated him because of his elevated status, other issues that were ultimately the cause of a tragic situation also internally isolate him. In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s Richard Cory, Robinson writes, "And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head." (Robinson). Though Cory had been isolated both by himself and others, no one knows the effect of this isolation until it is too late. This is an example of how when people are isolated by others, they oftentimes isolate themselves. This can also be seen Katherine Anne Porter’s The Jilting of Granny Weatherall. Porter writes, "Get along and doctor your sick,” said Granny Weatherall. “Leave a well woman alone. I’ll call for you when I want you. Where were you forty years ago when I pulled through milk-leg and double pneumonia? You weren’t even born.” (Porter). This shows how Granny Weatherall further isolated herself because she had been isolated all her life. Both Cory and Granny Weatherall isolated themselves from society and were therefore unable to build a healthy relationship with others in their time of