Stanley has retreated from society, offering only vague explanations for his isolation. It's clear he has "dropped out" of normal life. As the only resident of the Boles' boarding house, he has abandoned any effort to care for his appearance, remaining gloomy and irritable, half-dressed, unkempt, and reluctant to leave the comfort of his rundown room.

There are hints that he is not just in hiding, but fearful of some kind of retaliation if found. He dreads leaving the boarding house, dismisses Lulu's casual attempts at connection, and refuses to pursue work as a pianist, despite dreaming of a worldwide concert tour.

Though Stanley chooses his isolation, Meg's loneliness is not by choice. Stuck in a dull and uneventful marriage, she tries to satisfy her emotional needs by both flirting with and mothering Stanley. Meg is a kind yet sorrowful character, easily hurt by Stanley, who mistreats her when he grows weary of her overbearing attention.

Lulu also seeks to ease her loneliness, first by trying to connect with Stanley, and later, during the birthday party, by flirting with the older Goldberg. After the party, Goldberg visits her room, introducing her to some deviant sexual practices using strange toys and devices from a briefcase. In the final act, Lulu claims Goldberg mistreated and abandoned her, but he dismisses her, implying she got exactly what she wanted.