Social isolation is a chronic psychological disorder affecting an individual’s relationship with the society. It refers to the complete or limited lack of contact between an individual and the members of the society. Both the Enock Emery and Johnny Bear’s narratives illustrate social isolation as a dominant theme.
In John Steinbeck’s narrative, Johnny Bear most of the characters experience social isolation. First and foremost, the buffalo bar, one of the few social public places is ironically described as the quietest bar he had ever known with an unfriendly bartender. Secondly, the main character Johnny Bear is compared to an animal, a lonely man with no family or friends. The imagery of bear portrays the social isolation from humanity. Moreover,