realizes the extent of his actions and feels trapped. These feelingsare illustrated when Cather writes, His mind, unable to cope with the vital matters nearat hand... It was a losing game in the end, it seemed, this revolt against the homilies bywhich the world is run. (Cather, 166). So he assumes the ultimate form of isolation, hecommits suicide.In Silent Snow, Secret Snow by Conrad Aiken Pauls schizophrenia is the productof his personal isolation. Paul first isolates himself in school. He removes himself fromthe rest of the class often daydreaming of snow. His parents and teachers showconcern for him and believe that Paul is not paying attention. Yet this is just thebeginning of Pauls personal separation from society. This becomes obvious when looking at the extent to which Paul tries to hide his snow dreams from his parents anddoctor. Paul demonstrates his need hide his dreams when the doctor is questioning him,the voice in Pauls mind says,Tell them to go away. Banish them. Refuse to speak.Leave them, go upstairs to your room, (Aiken, 140). Paul dreams that there is moreand more snow on the ground, and it is the snow which muffles the postmans footsteps.The sound of the postmans footsteps represents Pauls removal from society. As thefootsteps become increasingly silenced, Paul becomes more and more removed fromsociety. Finally Paul breaks down under examination from the doctor letting out thesecret he has been trying to keep. It is at this point when the postmans footstepsbecome silent and Pauls isolation becomes complete. Pauls persistent delusions andhallucinations of snow are two of the main symptoms of schizophrenia. Close examination of Isolation as a Cause of Mental Illness shows that theauthors succeed in depicting isolation as a cause of mental illness in the short storiesThe Bet, Pauls Case, Silent Snow, Secret Snow. While in itself this statement isproven by the lawyers disdain for society in The Bet, but it is...
