The longer Marcus lives within the halls of the Black Godz, the more he forgets about his old life of privilege and mundane pleasure. What he does remember is that the pleasure he thought he knew was not real at all. It was the pleasure of comfort, the pleasure of knowing nothing will change if he doesn’t want it to, that he is always safe within his room as long as he doesn’t open the door. He is shielded by money, by power, by class privilege. And he will never have to face the same struggles that so many of his peers will. This safety, this comfort is what his parents always wanted for him. It is what the rest of the upper class enjoys. But it is a safety and comfort that keeps Marcus from ever experiencing anything real. No pain, no joy.