The Lodger · Theme
Isolation and Urban Anonymity
How The Lodger develops Isolation and Urban Anonymity.
The Buntings are isolated from former friends and neighbours, and the lodger is a solitary figure who 'creeps out' at night, reflecting how the vast, foggy city of London enables both social alienation and the concealment of violent crime.
Where it surfaces
- Epigraph
The epigraph evokes a sense of utter loneliness and separation from loved ones, setting a tone of isolation.
- V
Mr. Sleuth's solitary life in lodgings, his avoidance of women, and his night wanderings underscore his isolation; the Buntings' home becomes a microcosm of urban anonymity.
- Chapter XIII
The fog isolates the characters, and Mr. Sleuth's solitary, persecuted demeanor underscores his anonymity and detachment from society.
- XIV
The fog-bound house and the lodger's secretive nighttime activities underscore the isolation and anonymity of urban life.
- Chapter XX
The narrow, identical houses symbolize secrecy; Mrs. Bunting feels alone in her knowledge and dread.