The Psychoneurosis Leading to Isolation in “Winesburg, Ohio”There are people who do not wish to communicate with those around them, or simply do not feel they can . In Sherwood Anderson's novel Winesburg, Ohio, each character visited has their own perception of the world around them and what life should be, which is often far from the truth. Their psychoneurosis is caused by isolation in the small town. Psychoneurosis is a functional disorder in which feelings of apprehension, obsessive compulsive disorder, and physical complaints without signs of illness, in varying degrees and patterns, dominate the personality. Typically, psychoneurosis is caused by isolation, truth-seeking, and/or gender consciousness. The lack of outside communication with the residents of the small town of Winesburg forces them to struggle to overcome their perception of what life should be like on their own. When there is no communication there is evidently a lack of guidance, which leads to forming one's own often misleading truths; the individual then clings to what they believe to be true, basing their life on that truth. Without addressing their problems, the individual finds himself helpless. The idea that psychoneurosis leads to isolation is well demonstrated by many; characters from Winesburg, Ohio. An analysis on psychoneurosis leading to isolation will be further discussed in the characters Tandy Hardy, Wing Biddlebaum, and Alice Hindman. Critical Analysis In the short story Hands the main character, Wing Biddlebaum, is forced into isolation due to a traumatic event that occurred earlier in his life. .1 William L. Phillips states: “The story was called “Hands.” It was about a poor little man, beaten, beaten,...... middle of paper... ve, the characters fail to convey what they really feel. Every person in Winesburg faced a life of isolation. In most cases the loneliness of their lives was self-inflicted. This self-punishment was the result of a deep hatred towards the characters' perceived differences from the rest of the population of Winesburg. All the characters in the small town of Winesburg had different perceptions of life and their own "truths", but they all had one thing in common, the fear of isolation and the need for that connection between something or someone. They allow themselves to be consumed by their own problems that prevent them from experiencing a fully fulfilled life and that connection with someone other than themselves. Winesburg's psychoneurosis was a factor that seemed impossible to overcome causing the level; of isolation until it becomes unreal among the citizens of the small and peculiar town.