A Comparative Study of Isolation in Paul's Case & Barn Burning

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the theme of isolation as portrayed in Willa Cather's 'Paul's Case' and William Faulkner's 'Barn Burning.' The protagonists in both stories, Paul and Sarty, experience isolation due to their troubled backgrounds and a desire for a better life. Paul's isolation leads to self-destructive behavior, culminating in his suicide, while Sarty's isolation prompts him to leave his family in search of a different future. The essay concludes that isolation plays a significant role in shaping the fates of both characters, highlighting the detrimental effects of feeling disconnected from society and loved ones. Desklib offers a wealth of similar essays and study resources to aid students in their academic pursuits.

Running head: COMPARISON OF THE ISOLATION OF THE PROTAGONIST
Comparison of the Isolation of the Protagonist
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1COMPARISON OF THE PROTAGONIST’S ISOLATION
The stories which have been selected for the comparison of the protagonists in each
case includes the stories Paul’s Case by the author Willa Cather and the story Barn Burning
by the author William Faulkner. Both of these stories deals with the protagonists of the
respective stories itself, faces certain situations in their lives as a result of which, they
become isolated from the world and the rest of the human beings around them. Thus, this
isolation of the protagonists forms the basic point of discussion among the characters
themselves
The purpose of this is to discuss the isolation that the protagonists suffer as they
become isolated from the world and also from the people around themselves in the short
stories Paul’s Case by Willa Cather as well as Barn Burning by William Faulkner.
When the readers analyse the character of Paul in the short story Paul’s Case by the
author Willa Cather, it can be said that the story presents a strong sense of the theme of
isolation which is faced by the protagonist in the short story itself. This information is
obtained by the readers in the sense that Paul, the protagonist in the story itself rejects the
negative and the boring atmosphere which he finds himself confined to in the short story
itself. The readers also gets the idea that Paul, in order to escape the usual boringness of his
life creates the false stories of land he had travelled and having who belong to an upper class
society so that he can obtain the refinement in his life which he desires for so much.
Similarly, in the short story, Barn Burning, the readers are introduced to the ten year old
protagonist of the story named Sartorius Snopes or Sarty and the problem he finds his family
in the young protagonist feels the sense of isolation in himself because of the fact that he
could not find anybody whom he could trust so that his father and his family could be saved
from the troubles that his family is in.

2COMPARISON OF THE PROTAGONIST’S ISOLATION
From the above review of both the characters and also about the problems which both
the characters faces in their respective stories itself. In the case of Paul, it is seen by the
readers themselves how the theme of isolation eventually leads to the self-destruction of the
character of Paul ion the story itself. It is seen from the story that the protagonists in the story
itself, which both the protagonists suffer from the problems of isolation as it is mentioned in
the stories itself.
The first main cause for the isolation of these characters is because of the
surroundings and the situations in which the protagonists have found themselves in the short
stories. It is seen that in the short story named Paul’s Case as the Barn Burning, both the
protagonists have a troubled background in their lives itself. These troubled background can
be seen in the case of Paul who have lost his mother at a very young age and hence does not
like the surroundings in his home and his school. In the case of Sarty, it is seen by the readers
themselves that Sarty feels isolated because of the problem his father and his family is in.
Secondly, both the protagonists have some element of commonness in their lives: they both
want a life which is said to be better for the protagonists themselves. It is the need for a better
life for the protagonist s themselves which make them resort to the steps that they make in the
story themselves. And it is exactly the point where the theme of isolation turns into a theme
of self-destruction for the character of Paul, as the readers sees him stealing from the shop
and escaping elsewhere. However, it is the fear of arrested by the authorities themselves
which makes Paul commit suicide. Thus, it can be said that the problem of isolation indeed
leads to the self-destruction of the characters. In the case of Sarty, it is seen that the need of a
better life makes him leave his family towards an unknown destination himself.
From the above discussions, the facts can be concluded that the theme of isolation
indeed plays an important role in the story itself. It is because of the problem of getting
isolated from the society itself that the protagonists of both the stories met their fates. Thus,

3COMPARISON OF THE PROTAGONIST’S ISOLATION
the readers can conclude from both the stories that it is ultimately the problem of isolation
which affects the protagonists in both the short stories itself and makes the readers aware
about the problems of isolation.