In the novel, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, Skeeter is a 23 year old who has graduated from college and returns home a changed young woman. Similiarly, Holden Caulfied, the 16 year old confused young man in J.D. Salinger's classic novel, Catcher in the Rye, finds himself away from home in a boarding school and he has also changed. What could these two characters possibly have in common you might ask yourself?
Skeeter and Holden are both experiencing isolation via their experiences in the world and how they believe the others around them do not understand their new-found knowledge. Skeeter has left her home and attended college and has returned home to find her friends who have stayed behind are not as enlightened to the inequities of racial prejudice. Skeeter's friends do not understand how Skeeter has changed her outlook on the world and she knows this and the result is that Skeeter can no longer relate to her peers and she hides her true self from them and as a result she can no longer relate and feel understood by even her closest friends and family. Skeeter has difficulty conforming to her mother's expectations of what a young southern lady of her age should be doing with her life. Skeeter's loss of innocence in the ways of the world, especially concerning racial prejudice has created a wedge of misunderstanding between Skeeter and her family and friends. Skeeter is misunderstood and is becoming isolated, although she is interacting with her family and friends every day.
Holden expierences similiar isolation when he is in boarding school. Holden has experienced a traumatic event in his life-the death of his little brother, Allie. Holden feels that school, friends, teachers, life in general represent a hypocrisy and Holden is not willing to conform to the expectations of his family and friends fearing that he is not willing to "sell out" to the memory of his little brother Allie. Therefore, Holden remains distant and misunderstood by others. His lack of interest in doing well in school is significant to everyone else, yet Holden feels that by carrying on with the everyday concerns of life such as doing well in school is betraying the memory of Allie.
Both characters, Skeeter and Holden show us as readers that a person can experience isolation despite being a participant in a crowded and busy life. Isolation is not a geographical term in this instance, yet a frame of mind and to be understood and connected with other people is what prevents a character or person from being isolated.