To Angélique about "riding North"

see February 22, and you will find explanations about this chapter.

As for the doll.. It's an example taken by Tom to show Kafka's part in assuaging a little girl's sadness after she had lost her doll.

He, a famous writer, an old man, living through difficult times in Germany, took the time to write imaginary letters from the doll to the little girl in which she explained that she needed to visit the world... and eventually to marry, so that after three weeks the girl was prepared to accept she wouldn't see the doll any more.

So part of the writer for Tom: someone able to invent stories to help people to deny reality. (see the last sentence "as long as the story goes, reality no longer exists"... )

But Tom's message is ambiguous. Is denying  reality what the writer is supposed to do or is it to make people accept it even by resorting to white lies. And is this an aim or a side-effect of his art?

I am just giving you some elements to think about...

I hope it will help you.