Greasy Lake

Introduction

In every young man's life a point exists where he moves from the fantasy of invincibility to the realization of mortality. For some, it is a gradual move with no defined moment of enlightenment, but rather a series of progressive steps. For others, there is an epiphany, surrounded by a tragic or near tragic event that provokes a transformation. Either way, the inevitable transformation exists. The short story “Greasy Lake" by Thomas Coraghessan Boyle reveals a moment of enlightened transformation in three young men as they go through a series of mistakes, consequences, and reaffirmation. “Greasy Lake" is a well-written short story that traces the events leading up to the young men's revelatory moment. An article written by Michael Walker, found in Studies in Short Fiction, supports this proposal, “'Greasy Lake' is an excellent example of a story that includes many conventions of the revelatory tale" (248). This coming of age story can easily be applied to similar stories of young men all over the world as a well-remembered turning point on the road to maturity. For the characters of this story, one mistake follows another, revealing potential and actual consequences leading up to their revelatory moment (Bull, pp. 19).

Discussion

The young men in the story see themselves as tough characters. These boys see themselves as the epitome of coolness, as supported by an article published by Gale Research, which claims “the narrator and his fellow initiates believe they are acting cool they roll their own marijuana cigarettes and are smooth dancers they wear their sunglasses day and night, inside and out. They think of themselves as 'bad characters'. Yet, they are not born in the streets, or self-sustaining tough guys. They are just simple sons in rebellion. Larry McCaffery a critic with The New York Times Book Review supports this suggestion when he submits the young men are “frustrated in their efforts to find a suitable outlet for their passions and energies in America's shiny new suburban jungles" (Gale, pp. 3).

Only three days into summer break with nothing to do, they choose to go “in search of thrills, they find themselves in more trouble than they had anticipated". In the midst of a climactic moment, the narrator recounts his mistakes: losing his grip on the keys, identifying the wrong car and going for the tire iron, all choices that lead to near tragedy. This series of mistakes sets the stage for their eventual transformation. Every mistake has consequences. For these characters, the consequences of the night reveal themselves one at a time, each building on the other. Greasy Lake, “a mythic spot once known by the Indians for its clear waters but now littered with broken glass, beer cans and contraceptives," provides the perfect backdrop for their revelatory baptism. Arriving at the lake, they spot a car, which Digby claims: Belongs to another friend of theirs, who is no doubt inside having sex with a girl. They shine their lights on the Chevy, honk the horn, and even look ...