Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and Chopin’s The Awakening utilizes their main characters to analyze the theme of isolation. Salinger demonstrates Holden’s increase in isolation through separation from his friends, family, school, and fallen brother, Allie. Similarly, Chopin reveals Edna’s isolation through the leaving of her traveling husband and her best friend, Robert. Both Salinger and Chopin reveal the hardships of isolation. However, Holden feels depressed due to his isolation and Edna embraces and grows from hers. Holden’s isolation from others causes him to develop a cynical and depressing view of the world. Holden describes his walk through Central Park late at night when he says, “I kept walking and walking, and it kept getting