The Geography of Loneliness: Urban Spaces and Emotional Isolation in Short Fiction

The present study, “The Geography of Loneliness: Urban Spaces and Emotional Isolation in Short Fiction,” has examined the close relationship between city spaces and human emotions. The study shows that loneliness is not simply a personal or psychological experience. It is also connected to the places in which people live and interact. Cities are full of people, movement, communication, and opportunities, yet they can also create feelings of distance, anonymity, and isolation. The selected short fiction reveals how streets, apartments, workplaces, public transport, cafés, and other urban spaces can become symbols of emotional loneliness. Characters may be physically close to others but remain emotionally disconnected. Their experiences of displacement, broken relationships, anonymity, and the desire for belonging demonstrate the complex nature of urban life. The study therefore argues that the city should be understood not only as a physical setting but also as an emotional landscape. Short fiction effectively captures the hidden loneliness beneath the noise and activity of city life. By connecting geography with emotion, these stories encourage readers to look beyond the crowded appearance of the city and recognise the silent struggles of individuals searching for connection, identity, and belonging.

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