Nostalgia is an extremely prominent theme in The Mezzanine. In fact, without Howie reflecting upon his memories, the book would be quite bland. Many of the interesting observations Howie makes on his trip to the top of the building would be without context, leaving readers less invested in the character and the significance of his thoughts. For example, on pages 27-28, Howie makes a connection between the doorknob he is inspecting, to his father and his habit of draping ties over doorknobs. What started as an expression of his dislike towards modern door knobs, turned into a reminiscence of the door knobs he grew up with, and then his fathers ties, which leads Howie to look back on a thanksgiving event when his father complimented his tie. This scene shows readers a lot about Howie’s character. It follows the theme of Howie going on long rants. It shows his deep attention to detail as well as his obsession with mechanisms and making things work most effectively. But it also shows a slightly different side of him. The way he thinks about his childhood in an almost longing way shows a possible loneliness and nostalgia for his parents.
The moment also reveals the small child-like part left of him. While he seems at first very analytical and possibly a little robotic, there are small instances when he seems like a child playing at adult, “I spotted what had been my tie hanging over a door knob in the midst of all the ties he had bought himself, and it fit right in, it fit right in!” (Baker 28). He says after discovering a tie he swapped with his father at a thanksgiving dinner. His excitement over his tie seeming to belong with his father’s reminds me of a small child dressing in their parents clothes or for example, myself as a child trying to replicate my elder sister’s hairstyles on my own head. While this is only one instance of nostalgia making it’s way into the narration, there are many occasions where the author is reminded of his past. I would argue that these scenes are the most instrumental in the way the author makes Howie a more relatable character. By showing readers Howie’s nostalgic thoughts, where he seems a little more relatable than his more methodical side, which can seem a little confusing to many readers I presume, the author helps to make a deeper connection with readers that creates both a more interesting story line and greater character-reader relationship.
