You Are Here

Content Warning: This section of the guide refers to alcohol misuse and infertility.

The theme of loneliness and the deep-seated human need for connection drives You Are Here. The novel foregrounds the protagonists’ painful experience of loneliness in the absence of meaningful relationships. Marnie and Michael’s emotional isolation at the beginning of the novel catalyzes their character development and the plot’s progression.

The novel portrays loneliness as creating a profound void in Marnie and Michael’s lives since both lack meaningful engagement with others. The text illustrates the two protagonists’ insular perspectives. Both are lonely but try to convince themselves that they’re happier alone, afraid to make the necessary changes in their lives. The novel highlights how loneliness can manifest in various ways. Marnie’s solitude primarily results from physical isolation. Her character demonstrates the alienating nature of contemporary society: Workers increasingly need not leave their homes or speak to other people. The novel depicts technology as an unsatisfying substitute for face-to-face human interactions, showing Marnie “listlessly foraging on social media, incontinently liking posts, present but as anonymous as someone clapping in a stadium crowd” (4).

Through Marnie, the text also explores the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on social interactions. Accustomed to solitude, she finds face-to-face interactions and leaving her flat daunting.