The Menace To Society In Luke Mogelson's To The Lake

Throughout the collection of short stories, Luke Mogelson is very focused and intricate in his presentation of the veterans’ personal lives and specifically relationships. A key focus of his is to showcase their disconnection with society in the way that they act, interact and are treated. The intention behind this presentation appears to be to present the damage that has been caused by others, rather than by the veterans themselves. Hence, Mogelson is implying that the veterans are not exactly a menace to society, but rather, products of their harmful and unforgiving environments. This idea is prevalent throughout the collection, but is perhaps best showcased in To The Lake: a short story that centers around the life of an alcoholic veteran named Phil McPherson.

Right through his story, McPherson is alienated by others in spite of his constant efforts to readjust to society. He searches for support in others, but is shown coldness instead. For example, after his girlfriend – Lilly – leaves him, her family shows very little interest in maintaining any sort of relationship with …show more content…
At some point in his drive, he catches a couple of strangers looking at him and saying something from their car. Their behavior confuses him at first, but after he observes his reflection – his “neck tattoo and face scar, . . . (the) problem with his . . . (his) eyes” – it becomes apparent to him that they are scared of him. Even as he converses with one of the strangers, the woman in the car checks to see if “all the doors (of the car) were locked”. Needless to say, McPherson is being ruthlessly judged here. This situation is perhaps even more damaging for McPherson than his relationship with Lilly’s family because unlike Lilly’s family, these people were complete strangers to him. Hence, they had no grounds to be treating in the manner that they did – as though he was a