Buzz
Many people today are experiencing feelings of isolation. While keeping your distance is currently the best way to show care for others, humans are inherently social beings, and everyone is longing for some human connection. Throughout history, there have been instances where individuals, either by choice or against their will, were separated from society. Whether for extended periods or across great distances, here are ten of the most isolated people who ever lived.
10. Simeon Stylites
Modern saints are often seen as individuals who engage with their communities and assist others, showcasing their extraordinary efforts to enhance lives. However, in ancient times, the path to sainthood was quite different. Early saints often rejected worldly life entirely.
One method these saints used to achieve this was by avoiding society as much as possible. Desert monasteries provided a refuge for like-minded individuals seeking to escape worldly temptations. For some, even the presence of others was too much. Simeon Stylites pursued his spiritual journey by physically distancing himself from the world—he spent decades living atop a pole.
There was a trend among Christians to live atop poles (or stylos, meaning pillar in Greek). Simeon received a divine vision in his youth, instructing him to construct a tall pillar. Initially, he joined a monastery but was expelled for his practice of tightly binding a rope around his waist, which caused his flesh to decay and emit a foul odor, much to the dismay of the other monks.
Next, he retreated to a mountain as a hermit, but crowds soon flocked to see the holy man. To evade them, he built his pillar and lived atop it for 36 years. However, the spectacle of a man on a pillar only drew larger crowds. Over time, he increased the pillar's height to distance himself further from the onlookers. Upon his death, he was instantly declared a saint.
9. Blanche Monnier
Blanche Monnier never intended to live a life of isolation. Born into a wealthy French family in 1849, she enjoyed the privileges of wealth and beauty. Tragically, she also had an unimaginably cruel mother. In 1874, at the age of 25, Blanche informed her mother of her plans to marry. Her chosen suitor, a lawyer, did not meet her mother's approval. To dissuade her, Madame Monnier locked Blanche in a small attic room within their home. While her mother and brother carried on with their lives, Blanche endured wretched conditions above.
Madame Monnier assumed Blanche would eventually abandon her marriage plans after some solitary reflection, but she never did. Consequently, her mother never freed her. Blanche remained confined in her attic cell for 25 years. In 1901, an anonymous tip alerted authorities to her plight, leading to a raid on the home. Blanche was discovered living in filth, weighing just over 55 pounds (25 kg).
Her rescuers reported, 'The poor woman lay completely naked on a decaying straw mattress. Surrounding her was a hardened layer of filth, composed of excrement, scraps of meat, vegetables, fish, and moldy bread... We also spotted oyster shells and insects scurrying across Mademoiselle Monnier’s bed. The air was so foul and the stench so overpowering that we could not remain long enough to complete our investigation.'
Blanche was rescued from her isolation but remained physically and mentally unwell, passing away in a hospital in 1913.
8. Julian of Norwich
Isolation does not always take extreme forms. Some historical figures practiced a type of social distancing that modern doctors might encourage during pandemics. Julian of Norwich, who lived in the 14th century, managed to maintain her distance from others while still nurturing her relationships.
In medieval times, one way to demonstrate devotion to God was by becoming an anchorite. This involved constructing a room adjacent to a church, where the individual would be permanently enclosed. No one could enter or leave the anchorite’s chamber. Sometimes, a ceremony resembling a funeral was conducted to symbolize their death to the world. The only openings to the outside were for viewing the church altar, receiving communion, and receiving food. A small hatch also allowed visitors to communicate with the enclosed individual.
In 1413, Julian received a visit from another devout woman, Margery Kempe. 'She was instructed by our Lord to visit an anchoress in the same city, known as Dame Julian. Margery obeyed... and shared her many extraordinary revelations with the anchoress, seeking validation for their authenticity, as Dame Julian was well-versed in such matters and could offer wise guidance.'
Both women became pivotal figures in English literary history. Margery penned what is often regarded as the first autobiography in English, while Julian was the first female author in English whose works have survived. One of Julian’s divine messages might offer solace today: 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.'
7. Robert Falcon Scott (possibly)
Today, our world is nearly fully explored, with few places left untouched. However, at the dawn of the 20th century, vast uncharted territories remained, sparking a fervor for exploration. Robert Falcon Scott, famously known as Scott of the Antarctic, became a British hero for his daring expeditions toward the South Pole.
During his first Antarctic expedition, Scott’s team ventured further south than anyone before. His second journey fulfilled his dream of reaching the South Pole, but it ended in tragedy. Upon arrival, Scott and his five-man team discovered that Roald Amundsen’s rival team had beaten them by five weeks. Scott’s diary captured their despair: 'Great God! This is an awful place.'
During their return journey to the ship, one team member fell and perished. Another, Captain Oates, believing he was hindering the group’s progress, ventured into the freezing wilderness alone to spare his companions. His departure was marked by characteristic British restraint: 'I am just going outside and may be some time.'
The remaining team pressed on, but relentless blizzards impeded their advance. Just 12 miles from a supply depot, they could go no further. It remains unknown who was the last to survive, but that individual must have felt profound isolation. Scott’s final diary entry was a plea: 'Last entry. For God’s sake look after our people.'
6. Unknown Amazon Indian
In 1996, Brazilian authorities learned of a solitary indigenous man living in the Amazon rainforest. While many tribes inhabit the region, this man stood out as he appeared to live entirely alone. Investigators found several of his huts, each featuring deep rectangular holes—a practice unseen in any other tribe.
When a section of the forest was cleared, the remnants of a village with fourteen huts were uncovered, all containing similar holes. Researchers concluded that this man was the last survivor of his tribe.
No direct interaction has occurred with the man, though video recordings of him exist. Whenever loggers approached too closely, he relocated to a new hut deeper in the forest. One attempt by loggers to communicate resulted in the man shooting an arrow into a logger’s chest. Following Brazilian policy, no forced contact is made with tribes unwilling to engage. It seems this man will remain in solitude.
5. Fernão Lopes
Fernão Lopes, a 16th-century Portuguese soldier, lived a life full of dramatic turns. After participating in the conquest of Goa, he was appointed to lead the Portuguese garrison. When attacked, many of his men deserted to the enemy. Lopes married a local woman and converted to Islam. Upon the arrival of the next Portuguese force, brutal retribution followed. Lopes was captured, and his nose, ears, right arm, and left thumb were severed. Although later pardoned by the king, Lopes abandoned his ship on the remote island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic.
Saint Helena was uninhabited, but ships occasionally stopped for fresh water and supplies. Lopes made a home in a small cave, avoiding passing ships. When a crew accidentally found his dwelling, Lopes gained an unexpected companion: 'As the ship departed and raised its sails, a rooster fell overboard. The waves carried it to shore, where Lopes caught it and fed it rice left behind by the crew.' The chicken became his constant companion.
Lopes spent ten years in isolation before returning to Europe. There, the Pope absolved him for converting to Islam and granted his wish to return to Saint Helena. He died there, alone, two decades later.
4. Marguerite de la Rocque
Few places sound less inviting for marooning than 'The Isle of Demons,' yet this is where 16th-century French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque spent several years. Born into wealth, her land holdings were co-owned with a relative, Jean-Francois de Roberval, who apparently disliked sharing. When Roberval was appointed governor of New France (modern-day Canada), he sailed to the New World, taking Marguerite with him.
Upon reaching America, Marguerite was abandoned on the Isle of Demons. Some stories suggest Roberval was outraged by her pregnancy with a fellow passenger, while others claim he sought sole control of their shared lands. Regardless, Marguerite, her lover, and a maid were left stranded. Soon, the man, the maid, and Marguerite’s baby all perished. Yet, Marguerite endured. She survived for two years before being rescued by fishermen and returning to France.
Roberval faced no repercussions for his actions but was later killed by a mob enraged by his Protestant beliefs.
3. Alfred Worden
Our planet is home to 7.5 billion people, making true isolation rare. To escape humanity, one must look upward. Most astronauts stay in near-Earth orbit, just miles above the surface, and even they have companions. Alfred Worden, who stayed aboard the Apollo 15 command module, is often called the most isolated human in history.
While his colleagues walked on the moon, Worden orbited alone. When the module passed behind the moon, he was 2,235 miles (3,600 km) from his crewmates and 240,000 miles (390,000 km) from Earth. With the moon blocking communication, he couldn’t even receive radio messages. He was utterly alone—though he didn’t mind.
‘I was alone but not lonely. As a fighter pilot and test pilot, I was accustomed to solitude. I relished it. I no longer had to converse with Dave and Jim… On the moon’s far side, I didn’t even need to talk to Houston, and that was the highlight of the mission.’
2. Thomas Silverstein
Solitary confinement is used to protect prisoners, guards, or other inmates, or as a disciplinary measure to enforce good behavior. Thomas Silverstein became infamous in the U.S. prison system for spending the final 36 years of his life in complete isolation. While some argue he deserved it, others view his treatment as excessively harsh.
Initially imprisoned for a robbery that yielded only a few hundred dollars, he was never released. Joining the Aryan Brotherhood in prison, he was involved in the killings of fellow inmates, earning him additional life sentences. After murdering a corrections officer, Silverstein was placed in solitary confinement under 'no human contact' orders. He was held in a windowless underground cell until a prison riot temporarily freed him.
Once order was restored, Silverstein was returned to solitary confinement, with limited space for exercise. A legal challenge argued his treatment was unconstitutional, but since other prisoners were similarly confined, his isolation was deemed lawful. He died in 2019, decades before his potential release date of 2095.
1. Tom Neale
While most people stranded on desert islands were victims of shipwrecks or mutinies, Tom Neale deliberately sought solitude by moving to an uninhabited island. After serving in the Navy and exploring the Pacific, he became captivated by stories of an atoll named Suwarrow.
In 1952, he arranged for a passing ship to drop him on Suwarrow with supplies and his two cats. When locals learned of his plans, they offered assistance, including equipment. Several women even proposed joining him, but he graciously declined their offers.
He spent several years on the island, but a severe back condition compelled him to leave for medical care. Although he returned, the occasional visits by pearl divers made the island feel less remote. He later admitted, 'The main reason [for leaving] was quite simple. I realized I was aging, and the idea of dying alone didn’t appeal to me.'
His efforts to reintegrate with society were short-lived. He grew frustrated with modern conveniences like clocks and trousers. In 1967, he went back to Suwarrow, where he lived in solitude for another decade until stomach cancer claimed his life.
