There's no getting around the fact that the Divide is a lonely, isolated place. Though we now call it America's heartland, Nebraska seems more like the edge of the world in O Pioneers! Its "Genius" is poorly understood, to say the least. And what about the people clinging to this land for dear life? Yeah, they're not exactly your typical neighbors. Take Ivar, for example. Liked only by Alexandra, Ivar's eccentricities and reclusive life make him seem like part of the Divide itself. But don't get us wrong here: O Pioneers! doesn't portray isolation as a good thing. In fact, Alexandra's relationship to the Divide isn't complete until she finds true companionship.
Questions About Isolation
- To what extent is Ivar's social isolation a choice? How does the novel make this clear or unclear?
- In what ways does the friendship between Alexandra and Ivar add depth to Alexandra's character?
- What kind of attitude does the narrator have towardscommunal life on the Divide?
- Can the land itself be lonely? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Ivar and Alexandra are foils for one another; while their independence sets them both apart from the community and makes them social outcasts, Ivar remains isolated by his religious fanaticism while Alexandra finds meaning in her relationships with other human beings.
The Divide's isolation means that community is all that more important. Alexandra's struggle to find happiness for herself has to do with finding a balance between the independence that can come with an isolated frontier life and her need to have emotional ties to others.