How does the word haunted appear as a motif in John Updike's "The Brown Chest," and how does it contribute to the meaning of the story? The word haunted describes the boy’s ancestors. The word suggests their actions still affect him and influence his personality, even when he becomes an adult. The word haunted describes items of antiquity. As a boy and as an adult, the narrator peers anxiously at old, unused items that make him feel uneasy. The word haunted suggests that the boy is still haunted by memories of his childhood and his parents. The chest is a reminder of personal experiences he can’t ignore. The word haunted describes the house the boy lived in. Even after he and his family moved to a new home, the memories of his fear stay with him