The Many Themes in Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio Essay

The first character that exemplifies loneliness is Crooks. Crooks was always lonely because of his race. Crooks never had a black friend growing up which was no different from the ranch. He stated, “There wasn’t another colored family for miles...now there ain’t a colored man on this ranch.” Crooks felt like all white people didn't want to be around black people which made him isolate himself.He also felt isolated because he was not permitted in the bunkhouse like the other men. Since the guys wouldn’t let him in their area, he felt no one belonged in his, making him isolate himself from everyone else. “They play cards in there, but I can’t play because i'm black. They say I stink. Well,I tell you, all of you stink to me” (75). He also stated, “I tell ya a guy gets too lonely” . This shows you he actually get lonely.

To conclude, these are the four loneliest characters in the novel. They all have similarities in terms of dreams and loneliness however in the story the characters do not notice this but the reader almost classifies these characters as an outsiders group. Their characters show how having big dreams and high aspirations can make you lonelier. We can also see how the views of society affect loneliness such as the acceptance of racism and sexism in this time period as well as the fact that every man was for himself so there

An important aspect as to why this story was so well written was because of Anderson’s choice of narration. The point of view that Anderson uses in Hands can be identified as third person limited. Third person limited is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are only presented externally. Although it is told in third person, at one point the narrator is speaking directly to the reader, just like its done in the tradition of oral story-telling, this brings the reader into the “creation” of the story. Twice in the story the narrator says that both the teller of the story and the listener, in this case, the reader, have to become poets, “Let us look briefly into the story of hands. Perhaps our talking of them will arouse the poet who will tell the hidden wonder…”(251). In the beginning of the story the narrator

The theme of isolation is a heavy premise throughout all three books that help to shape not only certain characters but also provide insight on fundamental qualities of their identities. The object of this essay is to prove who seems to be the most solitary character between the books Light in August by William Faulkner, A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In these stories, the idea of isolation is the loneliness that has been experienced in a characters life. Some characters have experienced their loneliness since early childhood while others have been kept isolated involuntarily. Although these three characters have taken different approaches in their lives, they all ended up isolated from society. As Alfred Kazin believes that Joe Christmas is the most solitary character in American fiction, I would like to discuss how both the villain in A Good Man is Hard to Find and the heroine of The Yellow Wallpaper would not rival Kazin’s opinion. Joe Christmas in Light in August proves to be the most solitary character I have read about, as he is never able to become a full member of society.

Loneliness is one of many central themes in John Steinbeck’s classic novella, Of Mice and Men. Throughout the story many characters sought after the company and attention of others. Each character has a certain barrier that keeps them isolated from the outside world. Three characters who portray this loneliness throughout the novella are Crooks, Curly’s wife, and Candy. Each having a different wall between them and society.

Barbara Sher once said, “‘Isolation is a dream killer’” (qtd. in Wishcraft). In his novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck scrutinizes the effects that alienation can have on society. Many characters experience loneliness throughout the novel. He illustrates the results of individuals becoming isolated from their peers. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck portrays characters alienated from society in order to illustrate the harmful effects of loneliness caused by discrimination.

In a society of people all in the same situations how can someone feel so alone. When lives fall apart and people have nothing to hold on to people need each other most, yet are pushed so far from others. The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, follows the storyline of two men who are displaced farm workers during the Great Depression; they travel around and stick by each other’s sides no matter the circumstance. After many jobs they end up on a farm,the farm they hope will be their last stop. The time spent on the farm is filled with blooming friendships and careless quarrels, yet with an abundance of characters and entertainment- many people on the farm feel alone and out of place. Characters such as Crooks and Curley’s wife often come to mind when the subject of loneliness is brought up. Throughout the book using characters such as Crooks and Curley's wife, John Steinbeck demonstrates that humans are immensely impacted by separation from society and it will change the way that people will act and show themselves to others.

“Loneliness is a common emotion when someone feels alone, separated from others or unsupported and distressed” (Kennedy). A common occurrence of many great authors is to make a theme regarding loneliness or isolation for example, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”. “The Fall of the House of Usher”, comparatively speaking, is a very challenging read for most, whereas “The Yellow Wallpaper” is more of a relaxed read. There are many differences between “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”, however, there is a common occurrence that links the two, loneliness. Throughout the two short fiction pieces both characters, Roderick Usher from “The Fall of the House of Usher and Jane from “The Yellow Wallpaper”, are isolated from the outside world, both characters have an illness that keeps them in isolation, and both characters in some way turn to a form of literature to pass time . All of these aspects contribute significantly to loneliness.

They make choices that isolate themselves from everyone else. However, other characters are forced into isolation for reasons that are not in their control. The actions of another cause them to experience loneliness. The story begins with Robert Walton writing to his sister, Margaret, about his voyage to an undiscovered place.

The hand is a significant symbol that recurs throughout the novellas plotline; it comments on the novel’s meanings by suggesting that in order to achieve your hopes and dreams you, you must work hard for it. As each character is introduced Steinbeck makes specific

In the book "Of Mice and Men" the theme isolation and loneliness is cast upon three characters which are only some of the examples: Candy, because of his age, Crooks, Because of his skin color, and Lennie because of his level of intelligence. However going deeper into the reasons of why candy is isolated and lonely. First we see how candy has no friends or family. Candy says "I'd make a will an' leave my share to you guy in case I kick off, 'cause I ain't got no relatives nor nothing" (Steinbeck 59).

     Written by Sherwood Anderson in 1919, Winesburg, Ohio, a collection of short stories, allows us to enter the alternately complex, lonely, joyful, and strange lives of the inhabitants of the small town of Winesburg, Ohio. While each character finds definition through their role in the community, we are witness to the individual struggle each faces in trying to reconcile their secret life within. A perfect example of two characters are Alice Hindman and Enoch Robinson. The loneliness and illusion that encompass the lives of Alice Hindman and Enoch Robinson are the result of the discrepancy between their own capacity for intimacy and affection and the inability of others to truly understand them.

In the book Of Mice and Men there are many character's that are lonely but interesting. The book is about two best friends Lennie and George. The two main characters had the highest dreams. George was gonna buy a house with help from Lennie and a few others. Sadly the story took a terrible turn for the worse. Steinbeck included many different theme's in this book including racism, sexism and loneliness.

At some point in one’s life there is not only contentment or grief, but a state of loneliness. Loneliness is a part of human life, although some suffer from isolation more than others. Being lonely can lead to depression or create a different persona in oneself. Struggling through isolation can eventually kill one’s soul, expecting no hope or ending up in dangerous situations. The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck portrays the theme of loneliness especially through two characters. Crooks and Curley’s wife experience the state of isolation as they crave for a friend or someone they can talk with. Steinbeck urges readers to feel pathos when analyzing Crooks and Curley’s wife through the nature of their isolation, their actions and

A person could then appropriate a single one of these truths and try to go by it. That is when he or she would become a grotesque. The stories in Winesburg, Ohio do grapple with Anderson 's intended theme, and a story such as "Hands" clearly illustrates what he means by grotesque (Ellis 2).