
How many times have you ever been asked “what does that book mean?” or “what is the main idea of this novel?” Your answer most likely ranges from one hundred to a thousand times a school year as you read and review different novels. However, it is important to understand that each and every reader of a novel can obtain a different opinion or interpretation of the novel, and the difference of opinion actually perpetuates the broad possibilities and understandings on what that novel is really about. For example, “Loneliness” in Sherwood Anderson’s “Winesburg Ohio,” allows the reader to interpret not only the text, but also the character, Enoch Robinson, in differing ways. Anderson demonstrates in “Loneliness” that Enoch’s isolated childhood leads to his lack of social skills and his inability to communicate and connect with other people, which ultimately result in his social solitude at the end of the story leading to his social demise. 

Sherwood Anderson’s use of imagery in the short story “Loneliness,” helps portray and rectify Enoch’s lack of social skill. From the beginning of the short story the reader is introduced to Enoch and his difficult childhood that consisted mostly of torment and loneliness. Anderson’s use of imagery helps to described Enoch’s mother’s house that he grew up in as a child that was very dull and not welcoming. “The farm-house was painted brown and the blinds to all the windows facing the road were kept closed” (Loneliness, 91). The darkness of his childhood and the home Enoch grew up in  portray his rather depressing and somber character. Therefore, “old citizens remembered him [Enoch], as a quiet, smiling youth inclined to silence” (92). The darkness that the house perceives and the Enoch’s shy personality contribute to the idea that Enoch lacks communication skills with the outside world. Once Enoch moved to New York his new room is described as “… long and narrow like a hallway” (92), which is foreshadowing and symbolic to the life that he will live in New York. As a form of self -expression, Enoch resorts to painting. He is able to make his thoughts, feelings and actions come alive with one stroke of a brush. Therefore, people in his society are able to understand and communicate with him easier rather than having a conversation or encounter with Enoch himself. 

After Enoch’s move to New York, he begins to reside in a new home that further clarifies my understanding of Enoch’s social demise and lack of social skill due to his incapability to express feelings, emotions, or actions for things in the society surrounding him. While in New York City, Enoch broadened his interests and grew to appreciate art in order to communicate with the outside world. “He could draw well enough and he had many odd delicate thoughts hidden away in his brain that might have expressed themselves through the brush of a painter, but he was always a child that was a handicap to his worldly development” (92). Enoch is able to express his thoughts onto paper with a paintbrush; therefore, giving him some form of communication to his society and people that are interested in the same artistic talent. However, Enoch grows irritable with his new profound talent and the people he meets that also share the same interest in expression. Due to his immature development and lack of social skills “…he couldn’t understand people and he couldn’t make people understand him” (92). Enoch turns to the only “people” he can tolerate, imaginary friends. Since his new “friends” are not real they cannot go against his opinions or question his self-proclaimed image he tries to portray. His home and life in New York helps the reader interpret that Enoch is lonely due to his social demise; therefore, the house represents his dull character. 

Enoch’s loneliness encouraged him to get married and start a family in New York. He began to take on everyday responsibilities and started to mold to the “normal’’ life. After a while, however, he started to feel overwhelmed and suffocated due to his marriage. “To be sure, Enoch’s marriage did not turn out. He himself brought it to an end” (95). He started to tell little white lies so he could have alone time to walk alone in the street to ponder his thoughts on life. He began to crave alone time, and wanted to separate himself from his marriage and family, so he could start over. Enoch cannot handle the responsibility of taking on two different worlds; therefore, leading to the destruction of one, marriage. All of Enoch’s attempts at happiness seem to be developed by the false hope that he will be able to take on real life scenarios and grow up. However, the only way that Enoch can break away from his antisocial life and begin to interact with his society is by helping himself and tending to real world problems and needs. Also, if you participate in things that are bigger than yourself you will be able to gain a better understanding of your character, and you will learn to become more vulnerable which will lead you to develop better communication skills. 

In “Loneliness,” Enoch’s isolated childhood leads to his lack of social skills and his inability to communicate and connect with other people; therefore, Enoch falls into social solitude, which inevitably leads to his social demise.  Every reader will develop his or her own interpretation about the novel or character, but it is important to understand the reasoning behind your interpretation. Gaining insight on the novel you are reading will allow you to construct knowledgeable interpretations. However, each individual reader can interpret novels in many different ways. Understanding Enoch’s depressing childhood helps the reader to understand the social demise of the main character at the end of the novel. 
