How does Cussy’s social isolation affect her relationships with others?

How does Cussy’s social isolation affect her relationships with others?

It must be difficult to have no one but your father to confide in; no best friend. I can't even imagine the loneliness. But she appears strong. A person could have nothing but admiration for such a person.

There were many wonderful people on her library route that enjoyed her visits. Even though the towns people would have nothing to do with her she was eager and happy to see the people she brought things to. This is evident with the fun scrapbooks she made.

I imagine her isolation informed who she felt safe forming bonds with and trusting—Cussy and Queenie seemed to look out for one another, for example. I would also guess that Cussy's own suffering might have given her a greater sensitivity to the suffering of others, as we can see in her desire to protect and help those in danger or in need (like Henry).

We are social beings. We must have some form of contact with others. Cussy's isolation in her family, her friends, her medical condition, all contribute to social isolation. We feel frightened, nervous, inadequate, let alone lonely when we don't have that social contact necessary to be fully human. Cussy's feelings here are well described by the author.

She is empathetic and sympathetic to others because of it.

She had to have had trust issues. The people on her route were accepting, but the town people weren't. Her own father married off to someone who only wanted the deed to the land and basically raped her. It had to affected her send of self-worth. Yet she had strength and persevered. She was an admirable character.

Dealing with her isolation and rejection made life hard for Cussy, but she found solace in her job, providing mountain people with books and magazines to brighten up their hard, poverty-stricken lives. Her friendships with the patrons she served did a great deal to brighten her own life, giving it purpose. The harsh treatment she suffered might have made her bitter, but instead had the effect of making her kinder and more understanding toward others whom the surrounding culture might have ostracized.

Cussy found a way around her isolation. Yes, the townspeople were unaccepting and cruel, but she made real friends on her book routes. People who cared about her and stood by her. They worried about her when she was late with a delivery, they worried when she looked pale. She was a strong woman who knew who her friends were.

She didn’t really let her social isolation affect her relationships with her patrons. I was impressed by her interactions with her patrons, her devotion to serving their needs. Despite the prejudice she experienced, she was remarkably open and friendly.

Cussy yearns for friends, but her blueness isolates from others. This, as well as the prejudice of most of the people in Troublesome, makes her unsure of herself and awkward when around others, further isolating her.

I think she was willing to put herself out to the patrons on her route because of her own isolation. She became their lifeline.