Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part H (2025)

This study explores the theme of social alienation as depicted in English literature across various periods. Social alienation, often characterized by a sense of isolation, disconnection, and estrangement from society or self, has been a persistent motif in literary texts. From the existential crises in modernist novels to the class and identity struggles in postcolonial narratives, English literature has continually reflected the evolving dimensions of alienation. By analyzing selected works of authors such as Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, and George Orwell, this research investigates how literary characters embody alienation and how these portrayals mirror societal structures, cultural conflicts, and psychological dilemmas. The study aims to highlight literature's role in giving voice to the marginalized and questioning dominant social norms. This study explores the theme of social alienation as represented in English literature, focusing on how individuals are estranged from society, community, or even themselves due to social, psychological, or cultural forces. Drawing on a range of literary texts from different historical periods—spanning from the works of Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf to contemporary authors like Ian McEwan—this paper examines how alienation functions both as a personal experience and as a reflection of broader societal tensions.