> the book and its various plot points and devices serve essentially as metaphors for almost anything

That is interesting. Coincidentally (or not?), I was just thinking about an excellent article about parent-child estrangement that begins like this:

    Members of estranged parents' forums often say their children never gave them any reason for the estrangement, then turn around and reveal that their children did tell them why. But the reasons their children give—the infamous missing reasons—are missing.

Apparently, such reasons are a good example of antimemetic ideas in real life.