Isolation In The Lovely Bones

Isolation in The Lovely Bones In the general concept, isolation refers to the lack of connection to a group or society, and is usually connected to loneliness, which brings negative influence to people. However, Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones shows another side of isolation and demonstrates the power of it. In the novel, the characters can choose to isolate themselves intentionally, which is shown in the main protagonist, Susie Salmon, the main antagonist, George Harvey, and Susie’s mother, Abigail. However, in order not to get stuck in the stage of isolation, characters attempt to step out of it through different methods. Eventually, the power of isolation is presented when the characters who survive the isolation get a chance to think thoroughly

First of all, characters can choose to isolate themselves intentionally, which is shown in Susie, Mr. Harvey, and Abigail. Susie is willing to be isolated in her perfect world between Earth and heaven so that she can watch the people she loves on Earth. She understands that she will not be able to reunion with her grandfather in the real heaven until she fully stops investigating the vacuum by her loss and wondering what everyone left on Earth is feeling. Still, she chooses to watch her family all the time, saying, “I was relegated to heaven: I watched” (Sebold 138). Her willingness to be isolated demonstrates her love for the family. Although she is physically alone, she’s not mentally alone. In fact, her vantage point in heaven draws her even closer to her family as she can be there for them all the time. Another example of the intentional isolation is presented in Mr Harvey. Mr Harvey used to be stuck in his traumatic childhood, lacking the ability to associate with others. When he grows up, he chooses to isolate himself from the society so

Isolated, Abigail gets the chance to think of the meaning of family and her role as a mother. On her flight back to the family, she chooses to sit alone again and imagines the empty seats seated her two children. The empty seats represent her absence in her children’s lives. Eventually, she understands that “being a mother is a calling” (266) and makes her way back to her family. While most characters choose to step out of isolation and build up new connections with people around them, Ruth, on the other hand, chooses to stay isolated and takes solace in her isolation. Ruth is depicted as an outsider by