True to its title, this work is a representation of a pointless, senseless world filled with death, destruction, blood, and sexual frustration. In some ways, it could be pinned as a realist novel, but it's realistic in the sense that it portrays the most extreme version of human deterioration. The plot of the novel, which is the Algerian occupation of Paris, is completely overshadowed with an entangled narration of dreams, reality, emotions, and more.
The novel is completely playing with shock value; it rather takes over the entire plot. The shocking imagery, explicit sexual and degrading language, lack of moral values, and other similar elements help portray a world of disgust, world without humanity, world of death and destruction.
Abhor and Thivai are two individuals who were raised without any moral values or restrictions, as shown in the "Elegy for the World of the Fathers." Their background contributed to their damaged characters: Abhor's sexual frustration caused by her father molesting her, and Thivai's existential crisis caused by his mother being a prostitute to the sailors which resulted in him killing her. The two of them find themselves dependent on each other, in love with each other to the point of hate.
The narration can also be deemed senseless. The stream-of-consciousness style jumps from time to time, from dream to reality, and creates a sense of confusion. In addition, the characters are senseless as they fail to find a meaning to life and walk on the edge of death.
