Walker's shadow

Shadows are frequently used for symbolic purposes throughout the text, and early on, the author specifically describes Walker's shadow as a means to describe Walker himself. It is "dense, tight, very black and sharp, foreshortened, but already starting to lengthen as he goes, attenuating to a weak stain. Then back in under another streetlight, shadow darkening again, clean and hard" (11-2). The shadow follows Walker around like the ephemeral darkness of his trauma. It is shape-shifting and dark, and unpleasant like a stain.

Coney Island

While living in New York City, Walker visits Coney Island, and the author describes the sights and sounds of the boardwalk in vivid detail. While observing all of the elaborate stimuli, however, Walker compares and contrasts how this setting appears during the day and at night. For example, he notes, "By day, you can see [a ride is] made of...