Isolation is defined in the Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary as occurring when something is placed apart or alone. Naturally, humans are faced with feelings of isolation at certain times throughout their lives.
However, there are particular types of isolation that capture the imagination of writers and artists. Canadian authors are drawn towards the theme of isolation in their literature. Characters portrayed in Canadian literature are either spiritually, emotionally, physically or geographically isolated. Isolation can either have a positive or negative affect on humans. Humans are often driven mad by isolation, where their only means of escaping is by death.
Others who are isolated develop psychotic tendances which cause them to destroy themselves, as well as others. Throughout Canadian literature, isolation has an extremely negative effect upon the development of the individuals character. In the short story The Lamp at Noon, Sinclair Ross portrays the young woman Ellen as a character who is driven mad by her geographical isolation. Throughout this story, Ellen struggles to break free from the poor, barren and hopeless prairie landscape she and her family inhabit. Ellen has little contact with other people.
Living in a two bedroom home and once a month to town with not a penny to spend was not the type of environment Ellen wanted to live in ( Ross, 36). Feelings of loneliness and isolation surround Ellen, trapping her in an inevitable, hopeless future. Undoubtable, Ellens geographical and physical isolation were not the only components of Ellens insanity. Ellen felt emotionally isolated from her husband, Paul.
Paul was too preoccupied with his farm to even acknowledge Ellens feelings of isolation. Ellen addresses Paul many times, trying to convince him to leave the deserted prairie. Paul does not listen to Ellen. He feels that all he needs to provide Ellen with is clothes and nourishment (36).
It is clearly shown at the end of this story when Ellen is driven into a state of insanity that Paul also needed to show her love and affection (42). Geographical and emotional isolation warped Ellens character into a state of madness. Sinclair Rosss The Lamp at Noon is not the only short story that portrays the negative effects of isolation. In Susanna Moodies Brian the Still Hunter, Brians isolation moulds him into a demented and vile character. Brians alcoholism isolates him from himself as well as others. When sober, others refer to him as a passionate man, but, when the wit was out and the liquor was in, he was as savage as a quarrelsome bear ( Ross, 6).
Others feared Brians unpredictable character and therefore Brian endured little contact with others. Brians alcoholism also isolated him from his family both physically and emotionally. After being on a spree for a week or two,..he would hide himself up in the woods and steal home at night, and get what he wanted out of the pantry without speaking a word to anyone (6). This quote exemplifies the physical isolation Brian endures from his family, when he was drinking. Brians isolation also resulted in an emotionally unhealthy relationship with his wife. Alcoholism often compelled Brian to feel guilty and worthless toward his wife, he would take fits of remorse, and return home to his wife- would go down upon his knees and ask her forgiveness and cry like a child(6).
Brians entire character was destroyed inside, he felt worthless and incapable. to escape his emotional isolation, Brian attempted to commit suicide. (8) Brians unsuccessful attempt at suicide lead him into physical isolation again. he left off drinking entirely, and wonders about the country with his dogs, hunting. he seldom speaks to anyone.. (9).
This quote exemplifies how Brain was driven into a state of insanity. The character of Brian in this short story greatly displayed the negative effects isolation can have. The negative effects of isolation can also be shown through W.O. Mitchells novel, Ladybug, Ladybug. In Ladybug, Ladybug, the negative effects of isolation warp character Charles Slaughter into a psychopath. The only time Charles felt loved or acknowledged throughout his life was in the presence of his father.
Even though Charles father was rarely around, he always remembered to bring him home a present. This gesture made Charles feel loved and cared for. When his father passed away, Charles describes his life as a dark triangle, one he can never escape ( Mitchell, 104). The little portion of self-worth Charles possessed diminished after his fathers death when he was left isolated and alone with his abusive mother. Charles mother blamed her son for all of her problems, making Charles feel guilty and worthless, What trespass damage she had done inside him, draining his battery so the well-power motor could not turn over for him (97).
Treating Charles like a commodity, Charles mother destroyed his character. How had she done it to him? Through unfair denials: no second helpings of wobbly jello, lovely maple walnut ice cream, with broken promises made to ignite his anticipation so that he could later be destroyed (97). The lack of love and affection during his childhood warp Charles into a psychotic character later on in his life. Charles began to stalk others, attempting to harm them. Though Charles did not want to physically harm others.
He only wanted others to experience the same type of emotional pain he endured during his childhood. Charles kidnaps a young child, but does not physically harm her. Instead he captures the child and ties her up. The purpose of this kidnapping was to torment the childs mother, and make her feel emotionally distraught. Two days later, Charles set the child free: Unbind the child.
The time hath come to set her free, for thou has carried out my commandment as I behave bade thee do. The whore mother hath been wounded well. For two long nights and days of torment hath the deepest pain and anguish a mother can ever know, her heart is broken. This why the purpose, and hath been accomplished now (244). At the end of the novel, Charles committed suicide.
Charles felt the only way to escape his isolation was by death. In heaven, Charles would be reunited with his father and renew his self worth. It is clearly evident through the demented character of Charles Slaughter how isolation negatively affects the individual. The poem The Martyrology by P. B. Nichol is focused upon how spiritual isolation results in a negative way.
A martyr is someone who dies for their religion in order to break away from their spiritual isolation how can I live /who cannot be without you(line 25). Through death martyrs feel they will be united with God, where they will no longer feel the separation between heaven and earth. This spiritual separation also alters a humans state of mind, causing them to be driven mad. what can I do/ who shall I be/ I cant see you any more/ no direction sign /no longing (lines 19-20). Since humans can not physically see God, they are always left wondering and are left emotionally isolated in their own world. Spiritually, humans will always be isolated from God, which results in a negative way.
Throughout Canadian Literature it is quite evident that isolation has an extremely negative effect upon the development of the individuals character. The short story The Lamp at Noon displays a woman driven into a state of madness due to her emotional and geographical isolation. WO Mitchell portrays the negative effects of isolation through psychotic character of Charles Slaughter who endures physical and emotional isolation. In Moodies Brian the Still Hunter Brians character displays the negative assets of isolation through his reliance on alcohol. The poem From the Martyrology shows the negative ways in which humans are spiritually isolated.
Isolation is experienced by individuals in different ways. It does not occur to just those who endure hardships. Isolation is a fundamental human fact in which we all strive to break free of or avoid.
Bibliography
- Mitchell, W.O. Ladybug, Ladybug. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1988.
- Moodie, Susanna. Brian the Still Hunter Isolation in Canadian Literature. Ed. David Arnason and Alice K.
- Hale. Toronto: The Macmillian Company of Canada Limited,1975. 4-16. Nichol, P.
- B. From the Martyrology Isolation in Canadian Literature.Ed.David Arnason and Alice K. Hale. Toronto: The Macmillian Company of Canada Limited, 1975.
- 97-98. . Ross, Sinclair. The Lamp at Noon. Isolation in Canadian Literature. Ed.
- David Arnason and Alice K. Hale. Toronto: The Macmillian Company of Canada Limited, 1975. 31-43. Nichol, P. B.
- From the Martyrology Isolation in Canadian Literature.Ed.David Arnason and Alice K. Hale. Toronto: The Macmillian Company of Canada Limited, 1975. 97-98.
