In Chapter 2, the narrator offers the metaphor of a Khan and his attendants to illustrate the meaninglessness of life:
In justification of his manner of living there was first, of course, The Meaninglessness of Life. As aides and ministers, pages and squires, butlers and lackeys to this great Khan there were a thousand books glowing on his shelves, there was his apartment and all the money that was to be his when the old man up the river should choke on his last morality.
There are two metaphors in this passage. First, the narrator calls The Meaninglessness of Life a "great Khan." Khan was a common title for medieval rulers in central Asia. By calling meaninglessness a "Khan," the narrator demonstrates how well-read Anthony is and makes Anthony's life philosophy sound exaggeratedly sophisticated and exotic (in other words, it's really neither of those things).
Secondly, the books on Anthony's shelves are metaphorical aides, ministers, pages, and squires—all servants to the Khan of Meaninglessness. The other significant "aide" includes his inheritance. In other words, Anthony has a degree from Harvard and a pile of money. He attended the most exclusive schools. He has traveled the world. He has seen everything worth seeing. And at 25 years old, he has no purpose beyond the enjoyment of fleeting physical pleasures.
From these metaphors, it's clear that Anthony believes that life is inherently meaningless, and that he uses this belief to justify his frivolous activity. If life has no meaning, then he need not have any purpose. He divests himself of the need to be productive, generous, or even moral. The belief in life's meaninglessness frees him up to do what he pleases—to party, drink, disrespectfully refer to his grandfather as "the old man up the river," and even wish for his grandfather's death.
