Passivityman

Nathaniel's comic strip superhero Passivityman is a symbol of Nathaniel's generation. Though Passivityman is Nathaniel's creation, he is also an extension of Nathaniel's character. The superhero embodies the cultural mindset of Nathaniel and his contemporaries. Though he is aware of the world outside his insular reality, he chooses not to engage with it, believing he has no control over it.

Mr. Matsumoto's Apartment

Mr. Matsumoto's apartment symbolizes detachment. Though Nathaniel and his friends are living in the center of New York while subletting the loft, they remain separated from it. They spend their time, barely working, paying minimal rent, and drinking on the terrace. They even forget Mr. Matsumoto exists at all. The author uses the apartment as a representation of Nathaniel and his friends' voluntary disengagement from the reset of reality.

New York City

New York City symbolizes American society. Though its residents are living...