In "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel, the protagonist experiences a profound sense of alienation in her surroundings. Despite her efforts to connect and fit in, she recognizes that the people around her are not her own. This feeling of being out of place emphasizes her struggle for belonging in an unfamiliar environment.
The metaphor of being "marooned on a strange planet" encapsulates her isolation and longing for a deeper connection. It highlights the challenges faced by individuals who feel disconnected from their communities and the inherent difficulty of forging genuine bonds in such circumstances.