Isolation In 'Mazes And Was It A Dream'

1241 Words5 Pages
In modern society, when people are isolated, they suffer. Isolation can be present in many forms. People from different backgrounds can suffer unique isolation and can suffer different outcomes due to the loneliness that it involves. In “Mazes” by Ursula K. Le Guin and “Was it a Dream?” by Guy de Maupassant depicts the protagonist’s going through isolation physically, metaphorically, and psychologically. First, “Mazes” by Ursula k. Le Guin depicts physical isolation through the environment, food, and separation. “and this place around the prison is disorienting, the strange, smooth, curved wall – ceiling is of alien substance and its lines are meaningless to me.” (Le Guin, 145). Moreover, this quote explains the psyche of the protagonist.…show more content…
Furthermore, it shows that the lack of communication is coming through the isolation and difficulty of the foreign environment. “I cannot speak. Breathing, in this heavy air, grows more difficult. When the paralysis reaches my chest I shall die: probably tonight.” (Le Guin, 144). The environment that the protagonist is in, impacts his psyche. Since, he is unaware of his surroundings, he feels alone, and in pain. Moreover, his isolation, and pain in a new environment, impacts his basic desires for food and water. “I am not a child, to eat picked leaves! But the belly gets the better of the mind.” (Le Guin, 145). Despite knowing that food is needed for survival, the protagonist does not eat, because of the surrounding foreign environment. “Was the humiliation deliberate? Now that is it all past, I see that there is no way to know. But it remains very hard to ascribe its behaviour to ignorance.” (Le Guin, 146). Furthermore, lack of communication resulted in humiliation. Due to the lack of understanding and communication, the protagonist felt alienated. Moreover, in “Was it a Dream?” the death of the protagonist’s wife caused psychological pain. The protagonist attempts to let go of the past, but has difficulty in the process. “Happy is the man whose heart forgets everything that it has contained.” (Maupassant, 151). He realizes that happiness is attainable, but denies himself the truth. After his wife’s death, the protagonist has become a new person. Without his wife, he is alone in the world. In addition, the protagonist begins to hallucinate. The traumatization of death has left him scared. He begins to see the dead. “Then the dead person appeared, pushing the stone back with its bent back. I saw it quite clearly, although the night was so dark.” (Maupassant, 152). Since, he cannot accept death; he has convinced himself that the love for his wife can continue without her physical presence.
Open Document