Winesburg. He suggests George “forget all he has learned” (p.30) and pursue his dreams. Later, we learn of George’s wish to be a writer, and thus supporting the idea that each character is looking for a publisher for their individual piece of wisdom. In addition to Wing’s isolation, the reader is also introduced to the first example of Anderson’s “grotesque”. Upon relating his individual piece of wisdom to George, Wing, who had placed his hands on George, realizes what he was doing and quickly runs away in embarrassment. Although George remains baffled, the reader learns of Wing’s involvement in being accused of caressing a boys student of his and being publicy humiliated because of it. This directly relates to Wing’s bizarre hand movements, and also to his running away scared when “caressing” George. It is through his hands that he can express his true “love of man”. This love for Wing can only be expressed with George and because of this, feels isolated and lonely when he isn’t around. This “hunger became again a part of his loneliness and his waiting” (p.33) and ultimately ends up making him “grotesque”. Another important example illustrating these points in Winesburg Ohio, is the story of “Paper Pills”, the second story in the novel. Here, the reader is introduced to the character of Doctor Reefy, a lonely man who like Wing Biddlbaum, has isolated himselffrom the day-to-day life of Winesburg. He has done so out of misery and depression from the death of his wife, to whom he was only married to for one winter to the next spring. Previous to her death, the doctor had the habit of scribbling his thoughts and feeling down on little bits of paper and then stuffing them in his shirt pocket to be saved. Upon his wife’s death, Dr. Reefy proceeds to isolate himself to his office to make a life of...
