The theme of isolation is used in the writing to shape the main characters and provide particular insight into certain crucial aspects of their identify. Authors such as Nancy Mairs in “On Being a Cripple,” Zora Neale Hurston in “How it Feels to Be Colored Me,” and Sherman Alexie in “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,” offer us a characterization to define the theme of isolation in their writings. In "On Being a Cripple" Mairs examines the public's views of disabled people, as well as their opinions of themselves, and compares them to his own. In "What It's Like to Be Colored" Hurston explains how she comes to terms with being a girl of color in a world where people can be very discriminating. In “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,” Sherman explains how reading and writing helped shape his life in positive ways. Each author has their own way of expressing their isolation in their writing, as a personal experience that lends credibility to the writing and further engages the reader. Sherman, Zora and Nancy are the main characters of each story and are depicted as entirely isolated personalities who, despite different origins and living conditions, experience similar loneliness and despair. Sherman is an Indian child who grew up on the Indian reservation and did not follow the rules that all Indians were expected to follow. He mentions this when he says, “An intelligent Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-Indians alike” (75). Zora has moved to a new city and now must discover what it feels like to be black in a world where discrimination is a large part of society. “I was no longer Zora of Orange County, I was now a little...... middle of paper ......y, but I ultimately came to the same conclusion in overcoming their isolation individual. They also do a great job of demonstrating their theme of isolation in different ways. Isolation can be demonstrated in writing very effectively when used correctly. Works CitedAlexie, Sherman. “The joy of reading and writing: Superman and me” Presence of the writer: a pool of readings. 5th ed. Ed. Robert Atawan and Donald McQuade. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2006. 73-76. PrintHurston, Zora Neale. “How does it feel to be colorful.” Presence of the writer: a pool of readings. 5th ed. Ed. Robert Atawan and Donald McQuade. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2006. 166-170. PrintMairs, Nancy. “To be crippled”. Presence of the writer: a pool of readings. 5th ed. Ed. Robert Atawan and Donald McQuade. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2006. 183-193. Print