Suicide

The theme of taking one's own life out of despair recurs throughout the book. The first time we learn this is when Bill tells us about his father's death. His father was the owner of the refrigeration company that was passed down to him by Bill's grandfather, but when the manufacturing industry moved to other countries the factory was closed. His father always felt guilty for this, and felt like he had failed. He traveled to different countries and continents in search of something better for himself, but wound up visiting prostitutes and becoming an alcoholic. In the end, he took his own life by shooting himself in the head in the mansion where Bill now lives. Not only did he take his own life, but he was also in such a depressed state that he poisoned his dog before he died. He must have thought that the...