Isolation In Paul's Case By Willa Cather

Isolation is the process of becoming alone or apart from others (Oxford Dictionaries). It is a scary feeling which can lead to many issues in one’s life, but when people isolates themselves, it can be even more harmful. Having someone to talk to about one’s desires or issues is a very important aspect in developing normally, and avoiding the feeling of isolation. Often times, someone may not have another person to talk to and they tend to keep everything in, to themselves. There is only so much a person can take so when something is kept in too long, it will burst out sooner or later; the results often harming themselves or people around them. Many times, a person can pull themselves out of their self-inflicted isolation with the help of a loved one but as shown in the story Paul’s Case by Willa Cather, the main character, Paul, does not have anyone to help him out of his isolated state. Through the perspective of psychology, by analyzing the character of Paul in Paul’s Case, it is clear that the problematic character of Paul and his tragic descent into depression and suicide proves that self-isolation can be toxic to one’s development.

Pretending like he is already living the life he so desperately craves helps him cope with his horribly unsatisfying reality. He incorporates this imaginary life in all of his personas and in every environment he comes across, such as his home, his school and his work. However, hen the different personas he embodies are taken away from him, he reacts by falling into a deeper level of isolation than before. His reactions and behaviours to all of the instances in his life all come together to demonstrate how the problematic character of Paul and his tragic descent into depression and suicide proves that self-isolation can be toxic to one’s