Character Names

Throughout the narrative, the names of several characters relate directly to their identities and / narrative functions. The most notable example of this is the name of the main character, Rich. Another example is the name of Rich's wife - Robin, which is significant because Rich frequently sketches a middle aged Batman as a kind of self portrait: Batman's partner in crime is Robin. Yet another example is the last name of Amy's husband - Rapazzo, which resembles the word "rapacious" which means greedy, a term that connects with Rich's perception of Mike as a money-hungry businessman.

Cartoons and Comic Books

Cartooning and comic books, the medium through which Rich (and his rival Angel) creates his art, represents for both characters the way in which they explore their outer lives and express their inner lives. They are a kind of journal transformed into art - contemplation...