Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio, is a series of vignettes that explore the inner lives of the people of a small American town in the late 19th century. In the chapters Death, concerning Doctor Reefy and Elizabeth Willard, and Sophistication, concerning Helen White, Anderson examines the characters’ struggles to maintain relationships and remain connected to their community. Despite their differences in age and social standing, both characters experience similar feelings of loneliness and isolation, unable to find emotional fulfillment within their respective towns, highlighting the struggles of the people of Winesburg, Ohio, and emphasizing the importance of connection and community.
In Death, concerning Doctor Reefy and Elizabeth Willard, Anderson introduces us to Doctor Reefy, an elderly doctor who has grown distant from the community and his one-time fiancée, Elizabeth Willard. The most iconic moment in the story is when Elizabeth Willard enters Dr. Reefy’s office. She realizes he is the only person who can truly understand her struggles. As Elizabeth opens up to Dr. Reefy, she can finally let go of the burden and pain she has carried with her for so long. This is evident when Elizabeth says: “It seemed to her that she had come at last into the presence of one who understood. For the first time in her life, she was face to face with a man who knew what it meant to be unhappy and to fight against loneliness” (Anderson 168). We learn that Elizabeth has married a successful lawyer and moved away from Winesburg, leaving Doctor Reefy behind to grapple with his feelings of loneliness and regret. In Sophistication, concerning Helen White, Anderson introduces us to Helen White, an ambitious young woman determined to climb the social ladder and make something of herself outside of Winesburg. Despite her ambition, Helen becomes isolated from the people around her, unable to relate to them or find an emotional connection.
The two characters share a common theme of feeling disconnected from their community and the people around them. Doctor Reefy and Helen White have difficulty connecting with their peers and cannot find emotional fulfillment within their respective towns. As a result, they both feel isolated and alone. Their respective social statuses compound this emotional disconnect. Doctor Reefy is an older adult who has been left behind by his peers, while Helen White is an ambitious young woman who cannot relate to the people of her hometown.
Furthermore, Anderson’s examination of Doctor Reefy and Helen White reveals a common theme of loneliness and isolation. Both characters experience disconnection and regret, unable to find emotional fulfillment within their respective towns. George wants to see Helen because he wants to understand the world beyond the limits of his small town. He is captivated by Helen because she appears to have knowledge and experience that he can learn from. Anderson states, “…and now he wanted to be with her and to try to make her feel the change he believed had taken place in his nature” (Anderson 174). This shared experience highlights the struggles of the people of Winesburg, Ohio.
In conclusion, the characters of Doctor Reefy and Helen White in Winesburg, Ohio, demonstrate the importance of connection and community. The characters experience similar loneliness and isolation due to their inability to find emotional fulfillment in the town. They are potent reminders of the people of Winesburg, Ohio’s struggles and the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships to overcome loneliness and isolation. Connection and community are essential to a healthy and fulfilling life and should not be taken for granted.
Work Cited
Anderson, Sherwood. Winesburg, Ohio: A group of tales of Ohio small town life. Vol. 104. New York: The Modern Library, 1919.