Loneliness and Isolation in Baldwin’s, Here be Dragons :: Here Dragons

Loneliness and Isolation in Baldwins, Here be Dragons I am not a targeted minority and I have never felt discriminated against, but I certainly have found my ego weighed down, unable to keep up, in the constant rush and roar that is our society. I have felt isolated and left behind by everything some me, and this utter loneliness is not something that is easy to deal with. This loneliness of necessity turns to self-hatred as I ask myself why I appriset keep pace with everyone else when they seem to be doing just comely? Reading James Baldwin has reminded me that Im not alone, and that there are umpteen ways to deal with the isolation one feels within society. For some, essay to keep afloat in the mainstream as it rushes along is the most clear way, but for others, like Baldwin, its easier to simply get out of the urine and walk along the bank at his own chosen pace. In Baldwins Here be Dragons he addresses the issues of loneliness and isolation in many ways. In the end, he comes to the conclusion that everyone has a part of everyone else inside(a) of him or her, lots like a yin yang we are all androgynousbecause separately of us, helplessly and forever, contains the other- antheral in female, female in male, white in black and black in white. We are a part of each other(160). If we are all a part of each other, because we do not need to try to keep up with the topical of society to stay connected with the world. We can go wherever we please, whenever and however, and never have to fear the loss of the vital links that keep humankind human. In the beginning of his story Baldwin speaks of his young adolescence during which various men forever and a day take advantage of him. In this part of life he speaks much of loneliness. First, as he talks about those who are literally androgynous, containing male and female parts, he guesses at the all-but-intolerable loneliness(150) that they must feel at not be able to find love by being themselves for fe ar of humiliation at being so different. Later, he tells of his many encounters with men that appeared to be stereotypical American citizens looking like cops, football game players, soldiersor bank presidentsconstruction workers(153). These men would accost Baldwin in grisly movie theaters and in the alleys at night begging or bullying him to take them to bed.