Brigge sees himself as a writer though he claims to have had little success. What is the biggest impediment to Brigge succeeding as a writer?

Ghosts are a common presence in Brigge's childhood. How do Brigge’s experiences with the occult shape him? How do his occult experiences frame his reaction to the poverty in Paris?

Compare and contrast the deaths of Brigge's mother and Brigge's father. Which has the bigger impact on his personality? How is his life influenced as a result?