The Theme Of Isolation In The Painted Door By Sinclair Ross

When isolation comes to mind, people often think of being stranded without any outside contact. In this day and age however, the removal of outside contact in scarcely heard of. Humans now are living in a time where they are constantly connected. Whether this is by means of transportation or technology, the human race rarely ever experiences moments of isolation. Before cars, planes, and technology though, the feeling of being isolated was much more familiar. In the short story “The Painted Door,” Sinclair Ross takes readers through the everyday life of a couple living on a farm in a remote area. The isolation experienced in this story can be attributed to a time when phones, cars, and the internet were not around. As a result, a feeling

Although the true cause of discontent was the isolation she experienced, it did not manifest in this way. Ann was constantly frustrated with everything her husband did. She struggled to see the good, but could so easily pick out the bad within him. She blamed John for her displeasure. “It was just an effort to convince herself that she did have a grievance, to justify her rebellious thoughts, to prove John responsible for her unhappiness.” When John was home, Ann would complain about him not paying attention to her and always devoting too much time to something he thought she wanted. When John was away, fear settled within her and she wished he was home to ensure the chores got done and that Ann was safe. Ann was in a consistent state of unhappiness when John was home, and became paranoid when he was gone. She was always upset with him for something, and never spent a day enjoying her life or being grateful for the sacrifices John put in. “If he’d listen to me sometimes and not be so stubborn we wouldn’t be living still in a house like this.” Ann even admitter herself that “John’s steadfastness rebuked her vanity,” and “Made her complaints seem weak and trivial,” however she never skipped a moment to criticize the life John had made for her. She wanted more from life than what John provided and although she knew that it was not his fault, her discontent manifested only in a

She had wanted to leave John, and all throughout the story she was battling with her inclination towards freedom from the lifestyle she was living. “‘I mustn’t,’ she said aloud again. ‘I married him - and he’s a good man. I mustn’t keep on this way.’” Ann knew the thoughts she was having were toxic, but she could not contain her desire for Stephen. A life with John felt dull, but Stephen made Ann feel adventurous and exciting. When John did not return home right away, Ann was excited to go out to the stables in the storm. From Ann’s point of view, doing this “made life dramatic,” and gave her the exhilaration she had been searching for in John. She was unhappy with her usual jobs, and was searching for a change of pace. When Stephen went over to the house, Ann was quick to compare him to John and was unable to suppress the lust she felt towards him. “The texture of the moment was satisfyingly dreamlike; an incredibility perceived as such, yet acquiesced in.” Ann found herself in a trance around Stephen. He seemed to be the adventure she had longed for, and this lust resulted in Ann cheating on her husband. After sleeping with Stephen, a switch seemingly flipped in Ann’s mind. She realized that she meant nothing to Stephen, and her desire for attention blinded her from seeing this. “There had been no passion, no guilt; therefore there could be no responsibility.” Ann had