Illusion

Many aspects of the story incorporate the theme of illusion and deception. The first line of the book describes Williams' eyes as tinted windows, which stresses the fact that events in the book may not readily explain the reality of what occurs. A rug in Mercer House hides a bullet hole. Williams makes business calls from prison, unbeknownst to his professional contacts. Williams' mother is in complete denial about her son's impending trials. Williams' relationship with Danny is illusive. At first, the rapport is seemingly innocent and well intentioned, if a bit strange and questionable. However, as events of the trial begin to unfold, it is clear that their relationship has been tumultuous, secretive, and one defined by selfishness and lust.

Other isolated incidences throughout the book illustrate the concept of illusion. William Glover, who walks a non-existent dog, appears to be senile or hallucinatory. However, as the...