Auster masterfully probes the slippery nature of identity through both Sachs and Aaron. Sachs, once a novelist of manners, abandons his former life and adopts a new name, becoming consumed by a bizarre artistic project involving explosives. His transformation forces the reader, along with Aaron, to question whether we can ever truly know ourselves or others. Aaron, in chronicling Sachs's life, grapples with his own shifting identity as a writer, friend, and observer.

Chance encounters and unforeseen consequences form the backbone of "Leviathan." Sachs's life takes a sharp turn after a random encounter with a mysterious woman, leading him down a path of no return. This sense of unpredictability permeates the novel, underscoring the idea that our lives can be irrevocably altered by seemingly insignificant events. Auster masterfully weaves together seemingly disparate threads of coincidence, leaving the reader to ponder the capricious nature of fate.

As Aaron pieces together Sachs's story, Auster highlights the complex relationship between truth, memory, and narrative. Is Aaron's account of Sachs's life a faithful portrayal, or a distorted reflection of his own perceptions and biases? Through this metafictional lens, Auster explores the ethical dilemmas inherent in storytelling and the subjective nature of truth itself.