I’d like to offer a few ideas as an alternative to the powerfully persuasive concept that Ash’s dog represents her last hold on reality and disappears as her mental attachment to the actual world fades. I will refer to Ash’s daily life outside the war games (and before Class Real) as her “normal reality,” although that mundane life is perceptually distorted or is a virtual reality construct.
Assuming that “Avalon” takes place entirely within a virtual reality game world, I get the impression that Bishop—or some anonymous controller—removed the hound from Ash’s “normal reality” and relocated the animal to Class Real so that it (or its image) could act as a clue to lure Ash to the opera house and her rendezvous with Murphy…hence the poster (with prominent dog photo) that Ash views/is shown as soon as she arrives in Class Real. Also, could Bishop or another controller have manipulated Ash by purposely depriving her of her animal companion, to immerse her in loneliness or ennui, to compel her back into the war games and eventual ascendancy to a higher level?
Once in Class Real, the dog riding in the car in the traffic scene could have been intended as another motivator/clue enticing Ash to find the opera house and complete her mission, although she fails to notice the dog. The dog could also be a discarded/vanishing element in the gaming challenge of Class Real; when the pet is no longer of value to Ash’s progress, it tragically departs/is removed from her gameplay permanently.
I actually FAVOR the notion that Ash progressively loses touch with reality and devolves into a fantasy existence, her real-life dog incrementally exiting her perception as she succumbs to madness. My own musings about Ash and her pet are just meant as musings, additional possibilities. Thanks for maintaining your wonderful website and your forum for brilliant contributors.