Anne Tyler's, The Accidental Tourist and Morgan's Passing, illuminate man's alienation in modern society. In both, the quest for self-knowledge is the primary goal faced by the main character. The Accidental Tourist and Morgan's Passing both deal with characters attempting to overcome their alienation from society after being forced in isolation by a horrible occurrence in their lives. The focus of both novels lies on Macon's and Morgan's attempts to reconnect with society. Both male protagonists attempt to overcome their asphyxiating inhibitions and re-discover a sense of identity lost in isolation.
             Throughout the course of Morgan's Passing, Morgan the protagonist's alienation from society appears as the prominent theme. The protagonist of this work lives under an alias, a false identity created to make him feel less isolated. Each morning Morgan chooses "who to be today", from his vast closet of costumes (Bennet 162). These identities affect his life a great deal, as it is while posing as a doctor, that he meets Emily, who ultimately changes his life (Yardley 182). Through this false identity, Morgan is capable of holding control of his life. In Morgan's Passing symbolism is used to show Morgan's growth and movement away from alienation. Morgan's "assumed personas" represent his life with Emily, whereas his relationship with his wife is represented through his true personality (Morgans Passing 162). Through conflicts faced by Morgan, the reader becomes aware of Morgan's mistakes in denying "his family and lovers" (Wolcott 34). In Morgan's Passing, Morgan's awareness of the goodness of change represents his life of isolation. Though his marriage to Bonny awarded him with things as a home and a career, his heart and mind are left empty. Because of his interaction with Emily, Morgan cultivates an appreciation of "permanence in change" (Peck 9).
             In The Accidental Tourist, the death of Ethan, his son, pushes Macon to...