Fan Letters

The fan letters symbolize the addictive nature of fame, praise, and notoriety. At first, Betton asserts that he has grown weary of his fame, and that he finds his fan mail to be irritating rather than gratifying. However, when he sees that the fan mail for his second book is less frequent and less laudatory than for his first book, he becomes disappointed and insecure.

Fake Letters

The fake letters symbolize how people’s needs might sometimes drive them to dishonesty. First, Betton writes fake fan letters to himself in order to appear more beloved, and to hide the general failure of his second book. Later, Vyse writes fake letters in order to create more work for himself and increase his job security. Betton utilizes dishonesty to protect his own ego, and Vyse utilizes dishonesty to stave off financial insecurity.

Betton’s Books

Betton’s...