Going to the Movies

The title of the novel is The Moviegoer, which is interesting when you consider that the bulk of the action occurs to John while he is outside a movie theater — not within it. However, John sees himself and his role in society as a moviegoer. He uses this term to mean both a literal moviegoer and a type of individual that he understands in society.

One of John's favorite activities is to go to the movies. In fact, while imaging his participation on a radio show called This I Believe, he defines himself as a moviegoer. He travels to movie theaters in every city that he visits, making friends with the movie theater owners. At the end of the book, Aunt Emily asks whether or not John wants to go through life watching movies and John is silent because attending movies is one of...