Claudia represents reason - our best way to get at the secret (truth). David aspires to Claudia, but like the rest of us never lives up to the standard. Left without Claudia, David is lost and flails around looking for other glimpses at the secret. He finds the blunt, rational, reductionist Piper; the intuitive, just do it Tessie; the nerdy Calvin; the traditional metaphysician Thomas; and the precocious Sidney. Still, he spirals. It's only when Claudia is back in his life that he begins to find his way and gets his honey. But in the end, reason is killed by unreason - all we get are glimpses and that taste of honey.