Inherent Vice (film) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Inherent Vice (film) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Sortiledge

Sortiledge is seen throughout the film with Doc and she is a symbol within the film. She is a symbol that Doc is bordering between reality and hallucination as we aren't sure if she is real or not.

Ties

Doc goes into Wolfmann's home to find a whole rack of ties with naked women on them. The ties are symbols of women that Wolfmann has slept with, and Shasta's is missing, meaning something bad has happened to her.

Golden Fang

Jade tells Doc to beware of the Golden Fang. It becomes a symbol of the mystery that Doc is searching to figure out, and also of the heroine cartel that is lurking and in control of the characters in the film.

Notepad

Doc uses a red notepad to take notes while interviewing clients. The notebook is a symbol of his desire to ensure himself at a later point that he was either hallucinating or experiencing reality.

Sealed Documents

Doc is given access to a sealed document that reveals that Bigfoot's partner is in on the Golden Fang heroine deal. The documents are a symbol that Bigfoot has been betrayed and deeply wounded by his partner who he believes should have been loyal to him.

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