Fishing

Each of Russell's two fishing trips in the novel illuminates the declination of one of his relationships, the first with Corrine and the second with Jack. McInerney uses fishing as a replacement for the needs filled by important relationships, like his sexual relationship with Corrine and his mentorship with Jack.

Food

McInerney uses food to highlight the classism the characters exhibit with their upper-middle class lifestyle. Corrine’s charity gives leftover restaurant produce to those in need, which contrasts with Russell’s passion for gourmet eating. The contrast between Russell’s epicurean interest in food and Corrine’s passion for feeding the needy, while still being concerned with being thin, like all the other women in her social circle, shows how food is used to symbolize socio-economic class.

Art

Physical art embodies yearning for what one cannot have, while the concept of art is used to...