The Greasers of Greasy Lake
The modern world is much like T. Coraghessan Boyle's short story "Greasy Lake." In a society based on grunge, teenagers' make an attempt at a lifestyle pushing the limits of morality. The setting takes place near a run down polluted lake where people go to party and hangout. Identities are created and discovered. The three greasy characters of this essay are of the average punk rock 'n rollers, creating a theme of unforgettable revelation. What was once sweet is only bittersweet; in the end the James Dean aspect of life seemed better lived in the imagination rather than in real life. As the title implies, "Greasy Lake" is the place for action-of all sorts. What was once a serene and beautiful lake-ideal for meditation-became run down with marijuana stubs, beer cans, and liquor bottles. The only thing clean would be the heart of town, which remains quiet and dead because the teens feel the outskirts are what's 'in.' The "street lights [gave] way to the thin steaming illumination of the headlights, [with] trees crowding the asphalt in a black unbroken wall . . ." (Boyle 129). The run-down lake offers a place to hangout, lacks the threat of parents, and offers the opportunity to meet new face
Along with the other teens, they "went up to the lake because everyone went there . In the end, uncertainty has its price. Losing battles they thought they could win and not being successful with stealing innocence, proved to the nineteen-year-olds that trouble was never a once-in-a-lifetime thing-it always loomed around the corner. With the attempt of rape a failure, and the bludgeoned identity of each other, the boys soon realize that they are not as cool as they thought they seemed. Many live in the shadows of what parents want them to be and others do drastic things to gain attention and fit in with the crowd. Nothing can be fixed and lives cannot be reconstructed when harm is inflicted and memories are dampened. ' One blow to the wrong temple and the agitating of one girl can place one of the boys behind bars. A dead corpse; an attempted rape; and an unruly night. With the mixture of alcohol and drugs in their systems, trouble always seemed inviting. In a sense, the main character, Digby and Jeff are a head above the rest-they realized what they do not want to be-a greaser.
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