Isolation and Alienation

Characters like Bartleby, the inhabitants of the Encantadas, and the solitary old sailor are depicted as profoundly isolated, cut off from society or human connection, highlighting the existential loneliness and the dehumanizing effects of solitude.

Bartleby's extreme isolation is highlighted by his living in the office, his silent staring at a brick wall, and his refusal to engage with others.

The Encantadas are depicted as a place of profound physical and emotional isolation, exemplified by Hunilla's abandonment and Oberlus's solitary tyranny.

The islands are described as 'immemorial solitudes' with no inhabitants, history, or hope, reinforcing a sense of isolation.

Charles's Isle is a remote, barren place that becomes a refuge for outcasts and deserters, yet its inhabitants are alienated from the rest of the world, shunned by passing ships.