"The power of the dead is that we think they see us all the time. The dead have a presence" (DeLillo 98). White Noise by Don DeLillo is a contemporary adult novel and a winner of the National Book Award. DeLillo vividly presents the meaning of the phrase "white noise" as the announcement of death and its presence. The author additionally expresses the reactions of death - fear, ignorance, and running away from death. According to the Family Friendly Libraries (FFL), parents should be informed in advance of books read in class or used in class assignments. After parents have been notified, White Noise should appear on the Homewood High School Library's recommendation list because DeLillo successfully utilizes symbolism, themes, and characters to develop the purpose of the novel, which involves emotions pertaining to death.

The symbolism in this novel gives the plot a twist and intertwines death into...