Isolation and Loneliness

Despite being surrounded by family, the characters experience profound isolation—Victor's homesickness at Harvard, Maggie's spinsterhood, May's despair—highlighting the emotional distance that grows even within close-knit households.

The bachelor's solitary existence and his observations of others highlight the theme of isolation.

Aunt Priscilla's solitary walk and her fear of spiritualism underscore her isolation, while Cousin Lizzie's secret communion with Papa suggests a lonely pursuit.

The children's boredom and private fantasies during church and Sunday reflect a sense of isolation within the structured, solemn day.

Victor's first day at school highlights his isolation from other children, his inability to fit in, and his desperate flight back to the safety of home.