White is a profoundly isolated man in The Sunset Limited. He admits that he has no friends—except for someone he used to get lunch with at the university—and it seems he's estranged from his own family. Dude didn't even go to his father's deathbed, though we're not sure why. Also, White tends to curse the people he sees around him under his breath. Black tries to convince him that by opening himself to the rest of humanity and feeling some connection, he might feel less like tossing himself in front of a train… But White's not hearing it. After all, he thinks humanity is terrible.
Questions About Isolation
- Is White's isolation his own fault? Does he have beliefs (or non-beliefs) that tend to lead him into isolation (as opposed to out of it)?
- Is it easier to feel isolated in a big city like New York than it is in a small town? Why or why not?
- Is Black isolated to any degree (all of his family members are dead, for one thing)? If so, how is his isolation different from White's?
- How could White escape isolation? What would be a practical step for someone in his position to take? (Keep in mind that he says group therapy has never helped him in the past).
Chew on This
Ultimately, this play argues that community is essential to happiness.
This play argues that while happiness may come from community, true understanding of how people work comes from isolation.