In the novel, the ideas of art and death are paired closely together, especially in the death of Nico. The gay community is in crisis during this time, as AIDS is not a sickness that is well-known yet, and because of this novel's setting in the past, the horror of the illness has made the gay community into pariahs in their cities and towns. In light of this crisis, the artists in the story are challenged to accurately portray their suffering in art.
Although only certain people are infected with the virus, their presence in the artistic community of Chicago makes the whole community more death-oriented. For instance, Richard because to find new subjects for his photography, often making his portraits of human life and suffering more central in his artistic passion, whereas before, the photography was more work-of-art. This change suggests that the human struggle to find meaning in the horrors of life and death are a work of art all their own.
The apocalyptic tone of the novel is hidden in some ways. By choosing to empathize with these characters, one opens their mind to absolute confusion, panic, shame, and humiliation by mainstream narratives. The community is challenged to understand the way the illness works, and to love and accept continually, although the pressures of life have become frustrating and at times perplexing and disorienting. By remembering that in these days, AIDS was a brand-new illness, the horror and doom of the novel is more clear.
