Infinite JestIntroductionWallace's fictional narrative Infinite Jest is an epic take on the thoughtful and compelling nature of humanity. The novel's diverse characters demonstrate both individually and collectively the fixations and obsessions that bind humanity to the pitfalls of reality and provide a fertile basis for the semiotic explanation of addictive behavior. While Wallace may have actualized the concept of “dependent gaze” in the literal or physical response to watching Incandenza's coveted film, Entertainment [Infinite Jest], it manifests symbolically throughout the novel in the distractions of his characters. NihilismIt would appear that Wallace chose the individuals most frequently rejected and denounced by society as a vehicle for narrative research and preservation of the ultimate solution, which is illustrated by Incandenza's obsession with the film. At the same time, and despite their diversity and distinction, these individuals will ultimately represent the inextricable and hidden characteristics of nihilistic behavior. School-age malcontents, drug addicts, and physically challenged people all try to get a copy of the film and experience its pleasures at any cost. Ironically, it was director James Incadenza's habit to regularly observe the depravity of Boston's crowded street environments, where "everyone goes crazy, changing or watching" (620). Not surprisingly...