The Phone Symbol Analysis

The phone represents David’s anxiety and his lack of control over Nic. After Nic goes to college, David keeps in touch with him mostly by phone. But as Nic relapses again and again, David is constantly worried whenever the phone rings, describing how his stomach “constricts” every time he hears it. He worries when Nic doesn’t call him (fearing that Nic has relapsed); he worries when Nic calls him (fearing that Nic will call him high); and he also worries when others call him (fearing that Nic has wound up in jail or the hospital). Thus, the phone is a constant and random reminder of the fact that he doesn’t always know what Nic is doing, and that Nic might be in trouble. This is further reinforced when David ends up in the hospital following a brain hemorrhage: even though he can’t remember his name, he desperately wants to call Nic to make sure that Nic is okay.

David only finds the remedy to this problem with the help of a therapist, who suggests that David make plans for Nic to call at specific times so that he doesn’t worry when he hasn’t heard from him, and for David to turn his cell phone off for periods of time so he isn’t constantly reminded of his anxiety. In setting up these boundaries, David is able to control what he can, and he alleviates his worry over the things that he cannot.