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==Concept and Interpretations==
There are numerous layers of metaphors that are present throughout the album, which leaves it open to wide interpretioninterpretation. As a whole, ''The Downward Spiral'' is defined by Nietzschean concepts and a prominent theme of existentialism. It is a concept album in which the overarching plot follows the protagonist moving through his own "Downward Spiral", dealing with religion, dehumanization, violence, disease, society, drugs, sex, and finally suicide. Reznor has stated that the character is a representation of himself:
''"...it was during that tour'' ([[Self Destruct Touring Cycle|Self Destruct]]) ''that problems started to arise. Prior to that I would have considered myself pretty normal. With the Downward Spiral, I can remember where I was in my head, what I was thinking, and I can remember writing that record, and the mindset. This record that was about an extension of me, became the truth fulfilling itself."''
Most fans seem to agree that "[[Closer]]" (noted for its "I want to fuck you like an animal" lyric) has meaning deeper than its surface lyrics (note the desperate dependency expressed by the final line, "you are the reason I stay alive"). The narrator was not exactly modelled modeled after [[Trent Reznor]]'s previous life, though he would later go through his own sort of "downward spiral" during the Fragility tour, battling issues such as drug abuse.
==="A dissertation on The Downward Spiral"===