“Greasy Lake” is a short story written by T.C. Boyle, first published in 1985 as part of Boyle’s collection of short stories titled “Greasy Lake and Other Stories”. Set in the 1960s, the story revolves around the experiences of a group of young men who strive to assert their rebelliousness and search for an authentic experience in the dark and dangerous Greasy Lake.
Greasy Lake | Summary
The story commences with the narrator reflecting on a time when rebellion held great appeal, and the greaser lifestyle epitomized coolness, characterized by torn leather jackets, slouching postures, apathy, indulgence in drinking, rock and roll, and drug use – the picture of the American youth in the 1960s.
On the third day of their summer break, the narrator, accompanied by his friends Digby, a Cornell attendee, and Jeff, who contemplated leaving school to pursue art, music, or a head-shop business, ventures out into the night, in search of excitement. After a night filled with revelry and acts of vandalism, the three boys decide to make their way to Greasy Lake at around 2:00 AM.
As the narrator describes the lake, he reveals that the Native Americans called it ‘The Wakan’, which denoted a sense of spirituality and divinity. Initially, the lake was pristine, boasting breathtaking scenery. However, its current state is a stark contrast, characterized by filth, murkiness, and a shoreline littered with broken glass, beer cans, and the remnants of burnt bonfires. The nearby island appears ravaged, resembling a target repeatedly bombarded by low-flying aircraft.
Upon arrival at their destination, the group noticed an abandoned chopper and blue ’57 Chevy, which were occupied by a man and a woman. Assuming that the Chevy belonged to their friend Tony Lovett, they park their car behind it intending to playfully tease him and catch a glimpse of the woman in the car with him. However, as the man steps out of the vehicle, the narrator experiences a foreboding sense that something is amiss, exacerbated by the loss of his car keys. It becomes apparent that the man they encounter is not their friend but an enraged ‘bad character’ or greaser. Chaos ensues as the greaser launches an attack on the three friends, prompting the narrator to grab a tire iron and strike back. Uncertain of the greaser’s fate, they are confronted by the woman who emerges from the car, accusing them of wrongdoing. In a state of excitement and primal instinct, Digby, Jeff, and the narrator assault the woman but halt their intentions when they spot approaching headlights. With the sudden interruption, all three hastily attempt to flee the scene, leading the narrator to end up in the grimy waters of the lake.
While waiting in fear, he hears the greaser wake up in a rage, and he along with two other blond men starts looking for the three boys. And in all the chaos, he is horrified by the discovery of a dead body behind him in the lake. After a few curses and extreme vandalism of the Bel Air by the scorned greaser, the couple and the two men eventually part ways. The three boys leave their hiding spot and head towards the car. On finding the car keys, they all realize in some way that this was not what they had bargained for when they took up their ‘bad’ ways, and they all looked forward to returning to the safety and comfort of their homes.
While leaving, two women on drugs arrive in a Mustang looking for their friend ‘Al’. The three companions keep quiet, knowing that these women might be referring to the dead body in the lake. When asked if they wanted to ‘party’ with the girls, Digby politely refuses, and they leave them behind in their drug-influenced state.
Greasy Lake | Analysis
Set in 1960s America, a tumultuous time of societal upheaval, including war and shifting values, “Greasy Lake” captures the predicament faced by many teenagers who find themselves torn between their aspirations and their existing identities. Caught in this chaotic transition, some young individuals embrace rebellion, while others conform to the changing environment. The three characters in the story yearn to project a cool and tough persona, adopting a “we don’t care about anything” attitude.
Additionally, the significance of Greasy Lake itself plays a crucial role in conveying the author’s message. Initially described as a place of reverence and purity, the lake has now become a symbol of degradation and destruction. This portrayal could mirror the characters’ journey, where their innocence has been tarnished by their dangerous pursuits. Furthermore, the murky waters of Greasy Lake could symbolize a form of baptism, wherein their minds and souls are immersed, resulting in their emergence as new beings who are uncertain about their “bad boy” ways.
In “Greasy Lake”, the narrator’s recollections of his youth intertwine with themes of peril, passivity, and the allure of the past. Throughout the story, the narrator reflects, often with a sense of shame and humiliation, on the reckless attempts he and his friends made to cultivate a “bad” image, oblivious to the inherent risks associated with embracing a false and dangerous persona. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that the actuality of being “dangerous” falls far short of the romanticized ideals the narrator once held.
The narrator’s understanding of “nature” is profoundly distorted. In their hometown, the authentic essence and significance of nature have been overshadowed by excessive urbanization, leading to the narrator and their friends experiencing feelings of ennui, discontent, and a ceaseless quest for something elusive. It becomes apparent that, from their current vantage point in the future, the narrator recognizes with clarity that Greasy Lake was never a genuine representation of “nature”, and employs exaggerated language to underscore the irony of his past misconception.
In hindsight, the narrator acknowledges that he and his friends were far from being genuinely “dangerous” during their youth, despite their relentless attempts to project such an image. Coming from privileged backgrounds, the narrator and his companions were enticed by the visual appeal of appearing rebellious, yet remaining blissfully ignorant of the genuine perils that lay hidden beneath the surface of their hometown.
Boyle suggests that the boys’ profound boredom stems directly from the excessive development of their town and the eradication of nature. The distorted American dream of indulgence and extravagance is to blame, and in their quest to escape the numbing monotony, the boys foolishly seek out places like Greasy Lake, hoping to find any semblance of danger that could awaken their dormant senses. The protagonist and his friends represent a group of disaffected and disillusioned young men who believe that embracing a rebellious and destructive lifestyle will lead them to authenticity. However, their misguided attempts at rebellion only result in encounters with violence and danger.
Despite the narrator’s immediate realization that Greasy Lake cannot fulfill their yearning for genuine connection or meaningful engagement with the world, they choose to remain there, perhaps unable to resist the irresistible allure of danger. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, the narrator feels a sense of powerlessness, as they are incapable of warning their younger self about the repercussions that will follow as a consequence of their fateful decision to stay. As the narrator recounts the events of a particular night at Greasy Lake, he is engulfed in the realization of his past foolishness and the inescapable nature of his mistakes. The hindsight clarity enables him to perceive the gravity of those errors and the dangers they ultimately led to.
In a moment of resolute action, the boys are motivated to execute a “dangerous” prank, considering it a pinnacle of their notion of being “bad”. Unaware of the imminent consequences, they view the completion of the prank as a triumph, highlighting their sheltered innocence and their incapacity to confront genuine peril.
Digby enthusiastically identifies the Chevy as “Tony Lovett’s car” and playfully honks their car. Prompted by Digby’s suggestion, the narrator switches on the bright headlights. The boys delight in the absurdity of their prank, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to startle Tony and perhaps catch a glimpse of a girl’s exposed breast, envisioning their escapade leading them to even greater levels of excitement, adventure, and audacity.
The narrator momentarily breaks the narrative’s continuity to emphasize two significant errors he made. Firstly, he acknowledges the mistake of losing his grasp on the keys, which slipped from his fingers and fell into the obscure grass of the night. Secondly, he reflects on the second mistake of incorrectly identifying the Chevy as belonging to Tony Lovett in the first place. Next, a “very bad character in greasy jeans and engineer boots” emerges from the Chevy, which the boys realize is a noticeably lighter shade. This man, the narrator sarcastically notes, portrays himself as a “man of action” as he comes out of his Chevy and commences attacking the narrator, who is left sprawled in the dirt, searching in vain for the misplaced keys.
This marks the boys’ initial encounter with anything remotely perilous. They are captivated, spellbound, and deeply affected as the man viciously attacks them. Amidst the chaos, the narrator desperately searches for his keys, which symbolize his innocence and connection to home, but finds himself in a life-altering experience where he has lost all control, unable to locate them. The boys’ futile attempts to fend off the attacks further expose their naivety and ineptitude. Despite their endeavors to demonstrate their “badness” and capability to handle a dangerous situation, they are out-matched and ill-prepared. The narrator’s ironic mention that Digby acquired his kung-fu moves in gym class satirically acknowledges just how unprepared they were for the trouble they found themselves in.
On attacking the “bad character”, the narrator commits to both danger and action, and the group falls into stunned silence when he loses consciousness. The boys’ inability to cope with the rapidly deteriorating situation becomes evident. The narrator is consumed by childlike fear as he envisions the potential consequences of his actions – his thoughts spiral out of control.
When the girl in the car steps out to investigate the situation, the boys, consumed by their fantasies of “badness” and “gin and the cannabis and even the Kentucky Fried”, impulsively attack the girl and nearly rape her. The boys are interrupted by a headlight, and all three flee the scene, the narrator ending up in the lake. The lake here becomes a metaphor for this loss of innocence or a baptism – it transforms from a symbol of rebellion and excitement to a place of terror and consequences.
While anxiously waiting, the narrator hears the greaser awakening in a fit of anger, accompanied by two other men who had arrived in the car. They embark on a search for him and his friends. Amidst this chaotic scene, the narrator is horrified to discover a lifeless body floating in the lake behind him. After a series of expletives and the greaser’s destructive rampage on the Bel Air, the couple and the two men eventually part ways. While the immediate danger of the evening seems to dissipate as they drive away, the narrator’s sense of freedom and fearlessness, symbolized by the Bel Air, has been irreparably shattered.
The three emerge from their hiding spot and make their way back to the car. Upon finding the car keys, they collectively realize that their pursuit of a greaser lifestyle has not turned out as they had anticipated, and they long to return to the safety and comfort of their homes – this longing symbolizes the boys’ instinctive urge to flee back to a place of security.
As they prepare to leave, two women under the influence of drugs arrive in a Mustang, searching for their friend named “Al”. Aware that these women may be referring to the deceased body in the lake, the three companions are unable to communicate this information to the girl – they remain silent. When offered the opportunity to party” with the girls, the three find themselves incapable of accepting this offer. Politely declining, and they leave the drug-influenced women behind. The girls they had initially hoped to encounter, seen up close, are revealed as flawed and imperfect, shattering the boys’ illusions and desires. Once again, the narrator finds himself trapped in a state of inaction, though the reasons behind his passivity now differ significantly from the beginning of the story. As the narrator departs from Greasy Lake, the lingering presence of the girl—and the complete unraveling of everything he and his friends had sought—haunts his thoughts, much like the indelible memories of the night’s events continue to haunt him.
Greasy Lake | Themes
The short story “Greasy Lake” explores several themes. The characters in the story are struggling to define their identities and find their place in society. They experiment with rebellious behavior as a way of conforming to the mainstream rock and roll counterculture of the ’60s, underscored by uninhibited drug use among other dangers. However, they ultimately discover that their actions and choices do not necessarily align with their true selves.
The story delves into the allure of rebellion and the romanticized idea of the ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle. The characters are initially drawn to the excitement and danger associated with being rebellious, but they soon realize that their actions have serious consequences and are not as glamorous as they imagined.
The story highlights the disparity between perception and reality. The characters’ perceptions of themselves and their identities as “bad boys” clash with the harsh realities they encounter. They realize that their self-image is an illusion and that they are ill-prepared for the true consequences of their actions. The story explores the loss of innocence and the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The characters enter Greasy Lake seeking thrills and excitement, but their experiences force them to confront the darker aspects of life. They come to understand the consequences of their actions and the irreversible changes that occur as they navigate the treacherous path of adulthood. It is when huddling in the dirty waters of the lake that the narrator comes to understand the underlying insecurity that drives them in their quest for excitement and recognizes that the genuine dangers, exemplified by the floating corpse of the deceased motorcycle owner, are not what he desires or seeks. The group of friends depicted in the story is grappling with their sense of identity and their place within a rapidly changing society. Faced with nagging guilt stemming from their privileged lives, they yearn to assimilate into the counterculture revolution of the time.
“Greasy Lake” portrays a morally ambiguous world where the characters’ choices and actions are neither entirely good nor entirely bad. The story challenges traditional notions of morality and explores the complexities of human nature with respect to the times in which they live, showcasing the characters’ internal conflicts and the gray areas between right and wrong.
Greasy Lake | Literary Devices
Boyle’s vivid imagery and atmospheric writing style contribute to the story’s overall impact. The setting of Greasy Lake, with its murky waters, decaying infrastructure, and ominous atmosphere, serves as a reflection of the characters’ inner turmoil and moral ambiguity. The use of sensory details, such as the smell of “brackish water” and the taste of blood, further immerses the reader in the story’s grim and gritty world. The polluted and “greasy” condition of the lake symbolizes the murky and ambiguous nature of the era and the elusive sense of rebellion that the three young men yearn for. The Greasy Lake itself symbolizes the transformation from purity to corruption, reflecting the characters’ journey from innocence to the darker aspects of their identities. The lake’s degraded state with broken glass, beer cans, and charred remnants of bonfires represents the characters’ own tarnished existence.
References to the ’57 Chevy, Mustang, and the Bel Air, all of which are muscle cars, symbolize the allure of power and style. Furthermore, the destruction of the Bel Air (which stands as a symbol of freedom and rebellion for the three boys) in the course of the story reflects the shattering of their illusioned idea of freedom and independence.
Irony is employed in various instances within the story. For example, the characters present themselves as rebellious “bad boys” but ultimately find themselves in a situation that exceeds their expectations and leaves them longing for safety and comfort. Additionally, the characters’ preference for the reggae band “Toots and the Maytals” instead of rock and roll contradicts their proclaimed rebellious nature.
The story’s tone fluctuates between a carefree and rebellious attitude and a darker, more somber tone. This shift in tone reflects the characters’ initial desire for excitement and danger, followed by the realization of the consequences and the loss of innocence.
Greasy Lake | Title of the Story
The story “Greasy Lake” draws its title from the Bruce Springsteen song “Spirit in the Night”. This song depicts a lively and eventful night that takes a turn for the worse. T.C. Boyle incorporates this concept into his story, offering a profound exploration of human nature with a darker perspective.
Greasy Lake | Character Sketch
The three boys are Digby, identified as the leader of the group, Jeff, and the narrator himself. These characters embody the archetype of teenage rebels, seeking thrills and excitement through a “greaser” lifestyle filled with danger and excitement. However, despite the narrator’s repeated references to their rebellious nature, certain details appear contradictory. For instance, they all have college educations, and their musical preference for “Toots and the Maytals”, a reggae band, Ingmar Bergman and Andre Gide contradicts their claim of being fans of rock and roll.
The characters desire the allure of rebellion without bearing the full consequences. They crave the comfort of their homes and the security of their financial privileges while indulging in a lifestyle that inherently carries danger. The narrator’s use of a tire iron to attack the greaser reflects his imitation of scenes witnessed in movies, but he also fears that he may have unintentionally caused the man’s death, which contradicts his initial intentions.
In essence, the characters yearn for the excitement and rebelliousness associated with their chosen lifestyle but also seek to escape the full weight of its consequences, preferring the comforts and safety of their privileged backgrounds. However, a hasty plunge into the murky depths of depravity and vice at Greasy Lake exposes their ill preparedness for the harsh realities and consequences associated with truly embracing a “bad” lifestyle.
Other characters include the “bad character”, whom the boys initially assume to be Tony Lovett, the “fox” who had been in the car with him, the two Blond Men who arrive at the scene when the boys maul her, and lastly, the two young women who show up at the end of the story. These two women appear to be looking for someone called Al, who is presumed by the boys to be the bloated corpse in the lake.
About The Author :
Thomas John Boyle, also known as T.C. Boyle, is a highly acclaimed American author known for his works of fiction. He was born on December 2, 1948, in Peekskill, New York. Boyle has written numerous novels and short stories, exploring a wide range of themes and genres.
Boyle’s writing style is often characterized by its dark humor, satirical tone, and keen observation of human behavior. He delves into various themes, such as environmentalism, consumerism, and the complex dynamics between humans and their surroundings. Boyle’s works often feature vividly drawn characters who find themselves grappling with moral dilemmas or challenging circumstances. Some of T.C. Boyle’s notable works include novels like The Tortilla Curtain, The Road to Wellville, and The Women, as well as collections of short stories such as “Descent of Man” and “Greasy Lake and Other Stories”. His writing has garnered critical acclaim and earned him numerous awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and several O. Henry Awards. Boyle is renowned for his storytelling prowess, his ability to tackle thought-provoking themes, and his vivid and evocative writing style. With a career spanning several decades, T.C. Boyle continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary American literature.
