Feeling lonely sometimes is very human. Loneliness is hard to define, though most people know how it is to feel alone at times. It comes in many different forms, in many different social layers and anyone - young or old, white or black, can feel lonely. But is it possible to be alone although you are surrounded by friends, family and colleagues. This is a question addressed to the short story “Live Like a Dog, Alone” by Fay Weldon.
The story takes place in a cab driven by an immigrant from Kosovo, who is now settled in Britain. His costumer, Miriam, is the main character, who is on her way home after yet another visit at the hospital. The story is told by a 3rd person narrator but with Miriam’s point of view, which means we hear about her feelings and her past.
Miriam is “fifty-five, but most people assumed she was in her forties”. She thinks that this is so because she lives alone and has no children and therefore she has the time and money to take care of herself. However, Miriam is very lonely because she has no family, and her ex-husband left her for an actress and left her penniless. She tries to hide her loneliness behind her positive aura but it is clear that she misses someone in life. Even though Miriam is a lonely person, she is a very caring person who needs to make sure that everybody is pleased. There are several examples in the text which shows this: “She felt duty-bound to cheer him up.” (line 13) - “It was her instinct to cheer people up, in any case (…) The habit had driven her husband mad.” (line 63)
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