Alienation from Self and Society

Alienation is a recurrent theme within these short stories as characters suffer from emotional isolation and disassociation with others. Such characters express rootlessness and live in duality—the reality in which they live opposes their true identity. This continual kowtowing to a reality that is not theirs strangles the character’s will, and they feel emotionally isolated. When this happens, an individual can lash in ways surprising even to her. In “Accidental Transients,” Dina’s inner anger, a result of her continual loss of individuality to keep the family fed and together, takes its toll on her mental health. The wife’s true desire in “A Sailor” is a dispassionate and overly logical husband; she had failed to see this shadow side of herself that needs the security of such a husband and has a one-night stand with a sailor.

The loss...