The Lady of the Barge · Theme
Isolation and Community
How The Lady of the Barge develops Isolation and Community.
Characters often experience physical or social isolation, from the lonely barge on the river to the remote country inn, while community bonds are tested by fear, as in the tiger scare that traps villagers in a pub, or by greed, as when the carpenter's friends flock to him for his relation's money.
Where it surfaces
- Cupboard Love
The close-knit village setting is evident as gossip spreads quickly, and the investigation affects relationships among neighbors.
- In the Library
After the murder, Burleigh is isolated in the house with the corpse, cut off from the outside world, and his fear of the constable underscores his separation from lawful society.
- A Tiger's Skin
The tiger threat forces the villagers to band together at the Cauliflower, yet each man is ultimately isolated in his fear, unable to protect his home or family.
- Three at Table
The remote house in the marshes and the family's reclusive life contrast with the narrator's unexpected arrival and the forced communal dinner.