Double Life/Compartmentalization of the Self

Throughout the novel, Knapp frequently describes herself as being two different people. She says that this is very common for many alcoholics. They take their lives and compartmentalize them so that they can deal with everything happening around them. This first happened to Knapp while she was dating David. She felt that she could not share her intellectual, hectic, academic life with someone she considered simple and calm. There was Life A: Academia, and Life B: David. The two never intertwined. As Knapp's alcoholic tendencies increase, her need to break herself into pieces grows stronger.

For Knapp, alcohol fueled the desire to experience emotions and feelings. It also increased her need for chaos. When she expressed emotions, it was in a messy, unsatisfying way. Drinking drove her into an unsatisfying, horribly messy relationship with Julian. It also allowed her to become an expert...