When the drink was set before him, he felt better. He did not drink it immediately. Now that he had it, he did not need to.
-- Narration (chapter 1)

Importance: After Don buys a drink at Sam’s bar, he has the above thoughts. These lines introduce some of the dynamics of self-delusion that define Don’s addiction-related thought patterns. He frequently convinces himself that he does not truly have a problem, and that his drinking is both necessary and under his own control. These delusions are common to addiction.

Suddenly, sickeningly, the whole thing was so much eyewash. How could he have been seduced, fooled, into dreaming up such a ridiculous piece; in perpetrating, even in his imagination, anything so pat, so contrived, so cheap...
-- Narration (chapter 1)

Importance: As Don drinks at Sam’s bar, he begins to think about ideas for a novel, and he becomes very excited. However, after only a few moments, he...