Webster's dictionary defines a distraction as mental turmoil. Don Delillo, the author of the novel White Noise, shows how distractions are nothing more than mental turmoil towards the characters in the novel and this is demonstrated in several circumstances. The characters use distractions to avoid accepting the problems they encounter in their daily lives. The numerous distractions that the characters in the novel make use of are used to help them avoid their lack of spiritualism, their harsh emotionality and their inferiority. Many of the people in the novel White Noise use distraction to avoid annoyances in their lives and the reasons why these people create these distractions for themselves will be discussed. To begin with, the characters in the novel use avoidance to stay away from their lack of spirituality. Almost everyone in the town of Blacksmith goes to the supermarket as if it were a place of worship because they lack spiritualism. The characters in the novel then go shopping at the supermarket as a distraction from the fact that they lack spiritualism. According to Murray "this place recharges us spiritually, prepares us, it is like a door or a path". (37) When Murray says this, he speaks for many of the residents of Blacksmith who frequent the supermarket. Murray and the others all frequent the supermarket as regularly as one might go to church. In a church is where people are normally “spiritually recharged”, but as Murray states, the supermarket is where they are spiritually recharged. Because of their lack of spiritualism and the way they use the supermarket as a distraction from this deficiency, they are continually drawn to the supermarket every week to obtain the false sense of spirituality... middle of paper... difficult. emotions with distractions such as meteorology, taking a course on Hitler, and taking pills that prevent the fear of death. They also ignore their own inferiority by being cast aside for changing their name, having a huge historical figure like Hitler to teach, and going shopping. It is clear that the things that people find inconvenient in their lives are often pushed away from their daily activities using distractions. These annoyances are avoided to make the person feel more secure and have a better feeling about their life because whatever bothers them or makes them feel inferior, they will find a way to make sure it doesn't happen. For example, Jack changes his name and wears glasses and a cape just to fit the image of a person who can teach Hitler studies because he believed his own image was inferior..