Finch

Jacob’s middle name symbolizes his love of literature. Jacob adopted the middle name Finch as a reference to To Kill a Mockingbird, the first book that he ever loved. This love of literature is a main driving force behind his desire to be a successful writer.

Success of Crib

The success of Jacob's second novel symbolizes both the allure and the hollowness of traditional markers of success. Jacob finds that he desires fame and monetary success because he believes they will affirm his sense of self-worth and his worth as a writer. However, he finds this success to be unsatisfying, in part because it came from a stolen plot.

The Plot

The titular plot idea symbolizes the human need for storytelling and narrativization. People in the book are attracted to the plot because it is a compelling and intriguing story. This dynamic of attraction reflects...