Isolation In The Dance and the Railroad and The Strong Breed

Josh Bush Mrs. Mahon English 10H November 10, 2013 True Human Nature Have you ever been isolated? In the novel Lord of the Flies and the short story “I Only Came to Use the Phone” people have been put into extreme isolation. This is mostly shown through the characters of Jack from Lord of the Flies and Maria from “I Only Came to Use the Phone”. The authors’ purpose for doing this is to show people’s true nature when they are isolated from society.

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

Social conflicts can lead humans to alienation from others, society, or themselves. The feeling of seclusion from society is a process that affects all humans at one point. In the novels, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro's, the main characters experience some form of rejection or estrangement during their lifetime whether it be whether intentionally or unintentionally. Hester Payne, Gregor Samsa, and the children of Hailsham are the prime examples of the adverse effects isolation can have on a person .In each of these books, the authors depict the inner feelings of hurt suffered by the victims of severe loneliness and seclusion (the central characters of the novels). Through these character’s lives it is clear that social conflicts comes in all form whether it be holding on to sin, an identity crisis , distortion of reality, or dehumanization. When one goes through the transformation initiated by isolation, they are determined to find finding true happiness and achieving true moral redemption to justify the guilt, sin, or rejection.

As no one can avoid interacting on some level with other human beings, no one lives in complete isolation. Literature, film, and music provide many examples of the consequences and implications of alienation and isolation. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s constant attempts to alienate himself ultimately fail due to his love and desire to care for his sister, whose love and concern for him does not allow him to disengage totally from the world. It is through a person’s relationships with other people that he finds his place in the world and develops his own sense of importance. The caring and love of other human beings reaffirm a person’s sense of self-worth and give him the confidence to explore his world and form other attachments that will allow him to continue to grow and to develop as a person.

...ly progressed from a way to tell stories about kings and gods to a way to tell stories about ordinary human beings. By moving our focus off of nobility, the language of plays became the language of every individual, and eventually, due to America’s “melting pot” culture, the language itself became individual. The unique language of American dramatic characters represents not only the diversity of the American people, but also the diversity of all human beings. These dramatically dissimilar differences were not typical of older plays when they were written, but now, they are what make American drama so valuable. Our acceptance and love for characters with different values than ours is representative of the love we can develop for those who are different from us. It represents the worldview that our current culture idealizes and strives to achieve: acceptance for all.

Social immobility has been a problem for many people, whether they are citizens of United States of America or immigrants from another country, this is something people confront from time to time in their lives. Janie from Under the Feet of Jesus by Zora Neale Hurston, and Estrella from Their Eyes were Watching God by Helena Maria Viramontes are both examples of characters restricted by the intersectionalism of their gender or social and racial class. Through the two class texts mentioned above, social immobility will be further expounded in the context of characters such as Estella and Janie, and it will also be explored as a force that leads to the restriction and/or the loss of innocence for the characters.

In conclusion, both Marquez and Golding display characters that are separated from, society and lose their individuality and become dehumanized. While it is of the belief that authors use the behaviors of characters that have been separated from society as a way of negatively commenting on society, Marquez and Golding do the opposite. They portray society as what makes us human and separates us from “the beast” or “the cloister.” After a prolonged period of isolation from society the main characters lose sight of their humanity and succumb to these animalistic urges. Both authors’ message is that society is what keeps humans humane and prolonged separation from it could prove very fatal.

In three dynamic pieces of literature, the desperate yet hopeful characters gallantly endure the struggles of achieving their dreams as they experience the pain of desolation and the life-fulfilling happiness of a friendly companion. Through hostile resentment, the intense repulsion created by generations of territorial disputes tears apart two vengeful foes, Ulrich and Georg, in Saki’s captivating tale. Whereas in Remarque’s gory war novel, the pure terror of battle brutally slaughters the once innocent minds of soldiers as they undergo changes in their heart and soul within themselves. Although impervious to the influence of the reclusive residents tied to the ranch, as they quest for their shared aspirations, George and Lennie forge an invincible friendship in Steinbeck’s calamitous novelette.

Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 11th ed. Eds. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Longman, 2010. 1248-1348. Print.

The Theme of Isolation in Various Literature In this essay all of the literature I have chosen will have to do with isolation. {1} When people have been isolated they don't see other people for a long time and this can lead to make a person stronger or make them weaker. In a live and death situation in can give them the extra will to live that you didn't have before. It can make him stronger and become his ally or it can beat him.