Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Cup of Joe
After exchanging oral favors, Owen and Affenlight rinse their mouths out with coffee. Owen fetches the coffee and always uses the same two mugs: "KISS ME, I'M IRISH for [Owen], IF MOMMA AIN'T HAPPY [AIN'T NO ONE HAPPY] for Affenlight" (32.29). Why Guert Affenlight, who is neither Irish nor a Momma, owns either of these mugs is a mystery. But Owen does like to be kissed, and Guert wants to happy.
Guert's inner life is torn asunder when Owen has the audacity to use a different mug, choosing "DON'T TAKE YOUR ORGANS TO HEAVEN—GOD KNOWS WE NEED THEM HERE" (38.8). He takes this as a sign that their relationship is crumbling, and Owen admits that it is. That's something they need to change. Fixing the relationship is as easy as picking a new mug. But the writing on this particular mug raises the question: what happened to Affenlight's organs after he died? Is this more foreshadowing of his inevitable death?