Isolation, in and of itself, does not necessarily carry a positive or negative connotation. It can be a boon when you're seeking solitude, or it can be a lonely existence if it's not something sought after; sometimes isolation can be a tool for manipulation.
In The Ocean at the End of the Lane, we have a young boy who, until he meets the Hempstocks, has no friends worth mentioning and an indifferent family; his only companion is a kitten who meets a tragic early demise. All of this creates a scenario ripe for something highly out of the ordinary to occur without widespread ramifications: a perfect setting for our story.
Questions About Isolation
- Do you think the boy wants more friends? Is he bothered by his solitude?
- Does Lettie pick him to befriend because of his isolation? Or conversely, is it what makes her appealing to him?
- Are Ursula Monkton's attempts to use isolation to manipulate him effective?
- Does the boy's isolation make our story any more or less plausible?