What does the "ladder" represent in the novel, A Ladder to the Sky?

A ladder represents the steps that Maurice is willing to take in order to get ahead in the publishing world and achieve the success he dreams about. As a ladder takes a person from a low position to a higher one, Maurice starts out as a busboy and in some ways becomes a world famous novelist, even if not a well respected one. Typically, a writer would have to work hard to make proper connections, struggle with story ideas and drafts and perhaps publish several novels before achieving true literary success. However, Maurice seems to take several ladder rungs at a time and skips ahead quickly to the top. He steals others' ideas and written works, uses his good looks to seduce and sleep with people who have powerful connections in publishing, and destroys the lives of many along the way.