In Joyce Carol Oates' novel "Faithless," the protagonist experiences an enduring and haunting desire for death that feels omnipresent in her life. This longing is likened to a dial tone, an ever-present sound that signifies an underlying emptiness or disconnect. Just as a dial tone remains constant when a phone is picked up, her wish for an end to her suffering is a consistent part of her existence.

The comparison emphasizes the depth and entrenchment of her feelings, suggesting that this desire is not fleeting but rather a fundamental aspect of her daily reality. It evokes the sense that, like the background noise of a dial tone, her struggle with these thoughts is quietly persistent, shaping her experience and perhaps her interactions with the world around her.