Reliance

An overarching theme throughout the novel, reliance is utilized by the author to demonstrate the failure of the young culture he mocks. Each of the main characters experiences some type of reliance on an object or idea to help them deal with their current stations in life. Linda relies on drugs and alcohol to free her from an inability to discover a 'why' behind her desire to be a writer. Will relies on porn to combat his severe lack of identity. Cory relies on the management of food, to offset her inability to control her surroundings or structure the world the way she wants. Finally, Henrik experiences a type of reliance on the ability to break down; when the world becomes to much to handle Henrik retreats into himself.

Each of the above examples provides a physical and tangible aspect of reliance on to which the...