Stagno

Stagno, the town where Tiller lives with Val and Veej in the narrative present, symbolizes stasis. At the novel's start, Tiller refuses to identify his exact location, deciding to call the town Stagno for the sake of the story. Indeed, the name seems derived from the word stagnant, and speaks to Tiller and his new family's life therein. He, Val, and Veej barely leave the house, rarely interact with anyone, and struggle to grow themselves and their relationships without any productive change. The author uses this primary setting as a representation of Tiller's complacency, and its negative effects on his psyche.

Food

Throughout the novel, repeated references to food and eating symbolize desire. These images initially appear in reference to Veej's appetite, Tiller's sampling escapade with Pong, and Veej's newfound cooking addiction. As the novel unfolds, however, the references accumulate and metamorphose. Each time, Tiller is...