What does Percodan represent

Percodan symbolizes Zuckerman’s avoidance of his deepest personal problems. Percodan is a powerful prescription pain medication, and Zuckerman takes Percodan to dull the chronic pain in his neck and shoulders. However, he eventually becomes addicted to the medication and does not realize this fact until he passes out from intoxication and is hospitalized. The medication symbolizes Zuckerman’s habit of dulling the pain of his personal problems by refusing to confront his issues in any type of direct or constructive way.