Solaris Isolation Quotes

Kelvin's first experience of space in the book is of being trapped in himself; he can't tell where he is, or do much except hear his heart thud inside a metal box. Reaching outward just leaves you more trapped inside. Don't say Shmoop didn't warn you.

Sartorius isn't alone… or is he? Does having visitors mean you're not alone, or more alone? Remember, Sartorius' visitors come out of his head, so it's like talking to your own daydreams. Not very social.

You're always in your brain, which means you're always isolated, unable to get away from yourself, or out in front of yourself. You're stuck and alone. Unless maybe you're a psychic space ocean—then all bets are off.

Kelvin has proved to himself that he is not just making everything up. He would maybe be disappointed to learn that Stanislaw Lem is making everything up, though, so even if he gets out of his head, he's still stuck in Lem's.

Rheya explains why she Hulked out and bashed a door down when Kelvin left her alone. Remember, Rheya (the real Rheya) killed herself when Kelvin left her. It's not entirely clear if she is desperate not to be alone because that's how Solaris visitors work, or if it's part of her personality because it's part of her personality.

It's not aliens that torture you, it's your own thoughts. The reason the visitors are bad news is because the scientists aren't talking to anyone else; they're trapped in their own heads. They need to get a Facebook account and meet other people, obviously.

Humans can only talk among themselves, as the scientists only talk to their visitors. Just as individuals are isolated, so is the whole species isolated, at least in Grastrom's opinion. You can't touch anyone, no matter how many tentacles they've got.

He's alone with Rheya, the construct, but he might as well be alone with Rheya, the memory. Or, to put it another way, Kelvin is grieving.

Kelvin's reaction here is almost exactly parallel to Rheya's reaction when Kelvin left her alone; he becomes violent and angry and then doesn't remember what he's done (though he doesn't tear through a door, it's true). Is Rheya's reaction the same as his because they're feeling the same emotions? Or because he created Rheya, and she's him? And if she's him, is he mourning himself? He may be the only one in there, which is presumably why he's upset.

Kelvin is contemplating a life of semi-isolation, in which he won't give himself to anyone again. Is the Kelvin in future semi-isolation different from the past Kelvin? Kelvin didn't seem like a particularly open or warm person to begin with, and you could see his embrace of construct-Rheya as an affirmation of isolation, rather than a breaking with it (since Rheya is just his memory). Kelvin's future (like Rheya's?) seems like it's going to be much the same as his past—isolated, in both cases.