So many characters and yet so much time to be isolated. In Will Grayson, Will Grayson, Will always complains that he only has one real friend. And yes, that's as lonely as it sounds, even though that one friend is Tiny, who's larger than life. And the only person will can count on is Isaac… who turns out to not even be a real person. Yikes. In the end, both Will Graysons figure out how connected they are to everyone around them, though. But it's a long and lonesome road until they get to that point. You might want to hug a friend before you start reading.
Questions About Isolation
- Why doesn't either Will seem to have many friends? Are there any similarities between their two reasons? Beyond the theme of isolation, what does this tell you about the theme of identity in this book?
- Is being isolated always a bad thing? Or can being alone be helpful sometimes? Give evidence from the book to support your answer.
- How do the main characters start to change once they open up and let more people in? What differences are there in their changes? What does this tell you about the role isolation plays in their lives before they open up?
Chew on This
will doesn't want to tell anyone about Isaac because he's afraid that they'll puncture his fantasy and tell him the truth—Isaac's not real.
Will and will both isolate themselves, so the solution to ending their isolation falls squarely on their shoulders.