Symbolism in Boyle's "Greasy Lake".
Coraghessan Boyle uses many analogies in his short story Greasy Lake. Symbolism is strongly used throughout the entire story so this allowed me to make a simple correlation between it and his work. His use of analogies and references to other subjects that have related conflicts or climactic themes only helped to more thoroughly describe the setting and lay out the plot of the story.
This story is titled after, and almost completely revolves around, the Greasy Lake. The lake was first called "Wakan" by the Indians, symbolizing its purity and in "reference to its clarity of waters," but the lake was no longer so pure. Over time the lake had become polluted, "fetid and murky," its shore strewn with trash and evidence of the careless and irresponsible people who now roamed it. Even though the perspective on the lake and its surroundings is expressed differently throughout the story, it does not change the fact that, in the end, the lake is still polluted and suffers the consequences of the actions carried out around it. This relates closely to the effect that these same actions have on the individuals that participate in them. A change of heart and perspective on life may occur, but consequences of life choices must still be served. Also, the narrator notes that "it was good to be bad," and seems to find true pleasure going against the grain and disturbing "nature" in saying, "savor the incongruous full-throated roar of rock and roll against the primeval susurrus of frogs and crickets." The lake had been robbed of its true beauty; its chastity had been stolen just like so many others" had. It is not all that different from the people who frequented it. Once clear and beautiful, it had been negatively affected by the environment (people) surrounding it and now suffered the consequences.
Boyle's use of specific objects to symbolize bigger problems and solutions is frequent and thorough in relation.