Mo Money Mo Problems

A specific passage that struck me was Self's description of his London flat at the bottom of page 64. He says he likes to think of it as a "playboy pad" - a place where beautiful women congregate and lavish parties are thrown. His wishes for his flat are in no way representative of the actual appearance of his home, though, and its smell of "batch, of bachelordom" connotes a sense of loneliness. He warns the reader to not let "batch into your life" because it leaves the victim feeling rather pathetic and unsatisfied. Self's flat is a metaphor for his own emotions, and Amis expresses this when he attaches the word "poor" to Self's flat, compares it to an "adolescent", and writes that it "pines for a female presence". Self is heartbroken without Selina and her departure ruined his self-esteem, so Self's descriptions of his flat are actually representative of his own shortcomings. "Her dressing-gown, her moisturizing creams, the treasure-chest of her knicker drawer" are small details of Selina that symbolize her presence as a whole - a presence that has caused Self both happiness and sorrow. As the passage goes on, Self describes how everything in his flat is "hired". If something is "hired" it is generally temporary because it has the potential to be fired later on. Money gives Self all of the material items he needs, but the fact that they are "hired" makes it very impersonal and incapable of dependency. "I've lived here for ten years now and nothing is mine". Self travels frequently and the fact that "nothing" feels like it's his shows how unstable he is, even in his own home. Everything Self owns can vanish if he loses his money. Compared to the rest of the novel thus far, this excerpt is more depressing because it shows Self with his guard down, speaking less confidently and self-assured than he usual.