Greasy Lake Symbolism

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Everyone loves a “bad boy”, especially girls. At least, that is what more modern literature would have us think. Between people like Danny from Grease and Shawn from Boy Meets World, being a “bad boy” isn’t really considered an unlikable trait for a protagonist or a sidekick to act this way. However, T. Coraghessan Boyle gives a whole new perspective on the bad boy persona in his story entitled “Greasy Lake”. This story about a single night in the life of a bad boy shows the development of the protagonist from a bad boy into a very different individual. To see his development, we must look at him towards the beginning of the story, before his change, what causes this change, the end result and the symbolism. At the beginning of the story, …show more content…
The first symbol is the headlights of the fraternity members. The headlights, and even the men themselves, are a representation of justice. The very justice that will chase them down one day if they continue their ways. The next symbol is the body that is floating in the lake. It is, as opposed to justice, the ultimatum they face if they continue and don’t get caught. The risk of death at the hands of somebody who is even rougher is symbolized by this and helps to convince them to do what is right. Finally, the lake itself is a symbol. When the protagonist enters the lake, he still believes he is a “bad boy”, but when he exits, he no longer feels or wants to be one. This is very reminiscent of baptism, in which water is believed to change an individual. Even the actual name of the lake, while ironic, is a symbol itself. It is called Greasy Lake, but its real name is Wakan, meaning clarity of water. It isn’t talking about the physical clarity of the lake, but instead the clarity of mind that the lake will bring. The development of this story's main protagonist can be seen by looking at the thoughts and actions of him at the beginning, where the change happens, how he talks and acts after the change, and the symbolism of this story. In the end, the protagonist was taught a valuable lesson on how far he is willing to go to be cool, and the difference between right and wrong. It may not be as easy to be a bad boy as Grease would have us
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Symbolism In Greasy Lake

Boyle’s story “Greasy Lake” is a story of three boys’ unforgettable night unfolds. The narrator does his best at first to describe the three boys as “dangerous characters” (56). However, the narrator shows that he and his friends are nothing more than kids testing the limits, and not actually “bad”. Despite what the narrator says compared to the “bad greasy character” (58), the narrator’s self-proclaimed “bad”-ness is undermined. The true “bad” character in “Greasy Lake” is the “character…

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