Lights Out

Fred is Aly’s cat, and he serves a dual symbolic role in the text. Fred is a symbolic meter by which people’s worth can be gauged in the novel. When Fred likes someone, they can be trusted. As such, when Josh quickly befriends Fred, it is an assurance both to Aly and to the readers that Josh does not intend to hurt Aly. When Junior says, “Cat people are so fucking weird” (243), his disdain for Fred reveals that he is not trustworthy. By this same metric, Josh concludes that he is not a psychopath or sociopath because he loves Fred. When Josh doubts himself and worries that he is becoming his father, he reminds himself that he does not want to hurt Fred, which comforts him.

Fred also serves as a symbolic child for Aly and Josh, foreshadowing their later adoption of a second kitten and the possibility that they will have children of their own. In this role, Fred provides opportunities for Josh to show Aly a playfulness and intimacy that would otherwise be impossible, such as referring to Josh and Aly as “Daddy” and “Mommy” or joking that Fred would be scarred by their sexual activity. Effectively, Fred is another member of their budding family, and Josh’s eager acceptance of his “son” represents his investment in becoming a stable addition to Aly’s life.

Technology is a perpetual motif in Lights Out, used to discuss both the benefits and disadvantages of a technologically dependent society. First, Aly finds Josh through technology, specifically social media, which feeds her obsession. Then, Josh uses technology to track Aly’s activity on social media, find out more information about her, and monitor her at the hospital. Though Josh’s use of technology is dangerous and violates the boundaries of reasonable privacy, these actions are framed in a positive light, showing how technology, even when misused, can bring people together. Josh and Aly also use technology in a back-and-forth game of monitoring, detecting monitoring devices, and reactivating monitoring devices, all of which paints technology as fun and engaging.

However, the second half of the novel twists this motif, exploring the more dangerous implications of technological advancement. Brad also uses technology to find out more about Aly and break into her home. From that point on, Josh and Aly are focused on removing any trace of Aly from Brad’s devices, pointing to the risk of technology as a means of tracking and incriminating an individual. This component of technology has a beneficial element, nonetheless, as Josh uses a recording device to render Nico impotent. By the end of the novel, Allen transitions back to a favorable view of technology, though Aly still points out how participation in social media can bring mixed results.