Teenage years are the most important years in human development, these are the years human goes through extreme changes and experiences the new-found freedom. Idea, imagination, fantasy, and reality often entangle during these years – they often create the confusion between the perception and the reality. Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s “Spirit In The Night “, T.C. Boyle gave us an insight experience in the life of teenagers in the 1960s through his short story, “Greasy Lake”. It’s an insightful and exhilarating tale of how perception and reality play crucial roles in the teenage years. Throughout the story, T.C. Boyle elaborated how being rebellious by carrying on a crime spree and living a carefree life without realizing the consequence was
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The narrator described how wearing torn leather jackets, getting drunk, being high, and living a misfit life are parts of being a rebel. He painted the picture that being a conformist was unpopular while a rebellious counterpart was highly sought after. He later introduced the namesake of the story, Greasy Lake as a spot where the other teenagers often frequent to escape the reality. The fact is the narrator and his friends were from fairly well-off families, but they resented their fortunate lives and wanted to live the life of the outlaws. They chose to identify themselves as outcasts and categorized themselves as ones who belonged in the counter-culture. The story likely had taken place sometime in the 1960s – as evident by several vehicles described in the story, a reference to General Westmoreland’s handling of Khe Sanh, and Toots & the Maytals, a famous Reggae band in the 1960s. Jeff and Digby, the other characters in the story - both of whom acquired the same taste of the rebellious lifestyle and shared similar family background. Digby’s family seemed …show more content…
Boyle showed how fast things can change and how life can rapidly progresses and how quickly it can get out of hand. We always seek that unique identity, to be difference, to be rebellious – regardless of the cost, simply just to be accepted. The sense of belonging is important and proven to be the influence behind the behaviors that responsible for our perception of reality and fantasy. The realm of fantasy is full of joy and jubilation – something that human always craves. Unlike fantasy, the reality can be so honest and brutal but that what life is about. The narrator’s character showed that his life was turned around in the matter of hours – the reality brought him back to earth while the fantasy disappeared in the
The narrator described how wearing torn leather jackets, getting drunk, being high, and living a misfit life are parts of being a rebel. He painted the picture that being a conformist was unpopular while a rebellious counterpart was highly sought after. He later introduced the namesake of the story, Greasy Lake as a spot where the other teenagers often frequent to escape the reality. The fact is the narrator and his friends were from fairly well-off families, but they resented their fortunate lives and wanted to live the life of the outlaws. They chose to identify themselves as outcasts and categorized themselves as ones who belonged in the counter-culture. The story likely had taken place sometime in the 1960s – as evident by several vehicles described in the story, a reference to General Westmoreland’s handling of Khe Sanh, and Toots & the Maytals, a famous Reggae band in the 1960s. Jeff and Digby, the other characters in the story - both of whom acquired the same taste of the rebellious lifestyle and shared similar family background. Digby’s family seemed …show more content…
Boyle showed how fast things can change and how life can rapidly progresses and how quickly it can get out of hand. We always seek that unique identity, to be difference, to be rebellious – regardless of the cost, simply just to be accepted. The sense of belonging is important and proven to be the influence behind the behaviors that responsible for our perception of reality and fantasy. The realm of fantasy is full of joy and jubilation – something that human always craves. Unlike fantasy, the reality can be so honest and brutal but that what life is about. The narrator’s character showed that his life was turned around in the matter of hours – the reality brought him back to earth while the fantasy disappeared in the