Alienation and Loneliness

Alienation and Loneliness appears as a literary theme in 5 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.

Despite being surrounded by family and clients, Gian-Luca experiences profound isolation, often feeling like 'alien flesh' to his grandmother and unable to connect fully even with his wife Maddalena.

Isolation pervades the lives of characters such as Mr. Duffy in 'A Painful Case,' Maria in 'Clay,' and the boy in 'Araby,' who struggle with emotional disconnection and the inability to form meaningful bonds.

Characters like Eugene, Ben, and Oliver are portrayed as strangers in their own lives, isolated from others and haunted by a sense of exile, as captured in the epigraph's question: 'Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone?'

Romashov experiences profound isolation, feeling lost among hostile or indifferent comrades, and seeks solace in solitary walks, dreams of escape, and a romanticized love that ultimately fails him.

Peredonov's soul is warped by a 'morose separation from the world,' causing him to see all objects and people as hostile, and his actions are motivated by a vengeful response to his own grievous loneliness.