Essay Questions

How does London present isolation in the novel?

Isolation is a key theme of the novel and is experienced in some degree by all of the characters. Predominantly, London depicts the loneliness of the patients of the Golden Age hospital, who have all been diagnosed with polio. As a result, many of the children must stay in the isolation ward, cut off from family and friends, and forced to endure their suffering alone. This is an experience the children don't forget easily, and an experience which changes them.

Why is the novel titled "The Golden Age?"

The novel is named after a children's hospital called "The Golden Age, which existed from 1949 to 1959 in Australia. The hospital was known for its housing of polio-infected children during a polio outbreak in 1950s and is where London chose to set her novel. The title is also somewhat ironic, as it wasn't a "Golden Age," at the time due to the tragedy of the polio outbreak, and the many children who were afflicted.

How does Frank feel about the isolation ward?

When Frank is diagnosed with polio, he is sent to the isolation ward of the Golden Age hospital. Here, he is unable to see his family and experiences terrible pain without the support of his loved ones. The nurses have to wear masks and gloves, which further increases the feelings of isolation and loneliness. Elsa describes this experience as being "like a terrible dream, you couldn't remember much about it. But you were not the same."