What are the motifs in Ask the Dust by John Fante?

There are many levels of insanity throughout the story, including that of Arturo. Arturo might be diagnosed as bi-polar in today's world, with his extreme mood swings, religious fervor bizarre thinking and strange behaviors. His mind takes him from extreme braggadocio to suicidal insecurity in very short cycles, as he fears failure and tries to make his way in a world that does not seem friendly. Eventually, as he has more experiences and begins to see some success with his writing, his level of sanity seems to stabilize, although other characters' do not necessarily follow suit.