Parfait Amour

Parfait Amour, the drink that causes Phoebe to want to have sex, represents lust. The translation of Parfait Amour is “perfect love,” but the drink, causing Phoebe to cheat on Martin, leads Phoebe into precarious situations wherein she damages her relationships with others and with herself. Sex, for Phoebe, is problematic; therefore, the name of the drink is ironic.

Wound on Knuckle

The wound on Martin’s knuckle represents the author’s vulnerability. He receives the wound just prior to receiving Phoebe’s letter, and when he reads the letter it bleeds even more. Following that day, Martin falls into deep paranoia and depression, and the wound represents the initiation of this dark phase in the author’s life.

Synchotron

The synchrotron represents the broken American health care system. Administering experimental proton therapy, the synchrotron is used to treat Hitch’s cancer. A 200-ton machine...