Isolation: the Great Gatsby

Isolation Great Gatsby

Isolation can be viewed in many distinct ways either internal or external. In The Great Gatsby internal isolation is showed because the character always feels isolated even though he is around people. In The Metamorphosis external isolation is showed by the character being isolated by the outside world. Isolation can be viewed in distinct ways that will help you understand how the character feels externally or internally with himself. A person could show isolation even when they are around people but this is most of the time internal isolation because you feel lonely within you. In The Great Gatsby where isolation is shown says, “The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names”(Fitzgerald 40). Nick talks about a typical party as crowded and very loud, but lonely. In his description of various parties, Nick uses two short phrases that say a lot, "forgotten on the spot," and "who never knew each other’s names." This creates the feeling very alone in a crowded room. Gregor woke up as a vermin and since then he has been isolated by his family. In The Metamorphosis it says, “Many things had become superfluous, and though they certainly weren't salable, on the other hand they could not just be thrown out. All these things migrated into Gregor's room. Likewise the ash can and the garbage can from the kitchen. Whatever was not being used at the moment was just flung into Gregor's room by the cleaning woman” (Kafka 44). Gregor's isolation is complete when his room is no longer the "regular human room" of the beginning of the book that says, “His room, a regular human room, only a little on the small side, lay quiet between