Silence and Isolation Theme Analysis

The short story “Night” explores the narrator’s existence in isolation, arguing that isolation worsens psychological distress and can even be its root cause. While recovering from an appendectomy, the narrator does fewer chores around the house over her summer break. The lack of physical activity leads to trouble sleeping, and the narrator’s lack of sleep isolates her from her family, as she wanders around alone all night. Her time alone at night while the rest of the family sleeps stirs dark thoughts about killing her sister, Catherine. The narrator doesn’t tell her family about her insomnia and distressing thoughts, so her family’s ignorance of her struggles only makes the isolation worse, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. When she finally tells her father about her dark thoughts, she feels better and begins to sleep again. Though the narrator’s father does not offer any concrete solutions to the issue, simply sharing her experience releases the narrator from her isolation. This conversation stands in stark contrast with her family’s avoidance of the subject of cancer earlier in the story, when the very idea of cancer is “dark, rotting” and unspeakable. Ironically, it is easier for the narrator’s family to talk about disturbing side effects of illness (violent thoughts) than to confront potential illness directly. By exploring the effects of silence and isolation, the author suggests that honest relationships  are necessary to combat the effects of one’s inner struggles. In other words, talking about difficult issues is an essential part of preventing them from becoming even bigger, possibly all-encompassing problems.