Cardazone 1
Gregory Cardazone
English 24
Robert Cowan
December 1, 2010
Word Count: 1578
Analyzing Autobiography of Red
Auto Biography of Red by Anne Carson dealt with elements such as abuse,
Homosexuality and violence. The novel was published in 1998, though, personally
I thought the book represented different ideas throughout entertainment history. I will attempt to
illustrate a connection between the novel and other sources of literature, film, and other dark and
disturbing characters which resemble Geryon. While reading Autobiography of Red, the
protagonist character reminded me of many different pieces of literature and film. I hope to shed
light on each comparison.
Geryon’s Family
Geryon’s family consists of a neglecting father, an abusive brother, and his mother. Geryon’s
mother throughout the first portion of the novel was neglecting. She showed a bit of favoritism
toward Geryon’s brother, but really she was just an eccentric woman. Motherhood could have
still been fairly new to his mother. It’s a common relationship with confused characters
throughout entertainment. It seems every dark character has some sought of mother issues, the
mother usually doesn’t show the person enough affection, and then at some point will show too
much care. We see this throughout the novel with Geryon and his mother. Geryon’s family had a
1950’s sitcom feel to it with a dirty twist. Geryon and his older brother with a blind eye seemed
to be close siblings, until we found out he was being sexually molested by his older sibling. Both
parents were present, but both parents didn’t seem to care. If they did care, how can they not
know about the boy’s relationship with each other? There is a great scene in Oliver Stone’s
Natural Born Killers could describe Geryon’s family. In the scene The Father who is portrayed
by Rodney Dangerfield is dangerous and abusive toward his family. Stone plays a comedic laugh
track that is featured in most family sitcoms. And everything the father would say abusive the
audience would laugh and applaud. It appears to be an innocent family but truly the family is
dark. And I feel the same connection between Geryon’s family. They seem like your typical
model family, but there anything but a “model” family.
Red Desert Connection
Carson used the 1964 Italian Film Deserto Rosso by director Michelangelo Antonioni as an
inspiration while developing her novel. My theory is Carson based the protagonist Giuliana on
Geryon’s mother. Although the two may not have similar traits, but there is a way to explain
Geryon’s mother neglecting him. The first scene of the film Giuliana seems to be lost and
starved. She has a small boy with her, which is her son. Who I presumed to be Geryon. Giuliana
then rushes up to a factory worker and ask the man for his sandwich. The sandwich is half bitten
but she doesn’t care and eats away. She offers the sandwich to her son, which is telling. I thought
when she asked the man for the sandwich it would have been to feed her young son. Selfishly
she began to eat the sandwich, and then offered just a “bite” to her young son. Throughout the
movie Giuliana goes through hysterics, she was almost raped, she also feels neglected from her
husband. This could explain Geryon’s parents not being very close either. Concluding the movie
Giuliana is back where she started with her son. Identical to the first scene of the film, she looks
up and she can see the factory smoke turned yellow. The young boy is concerned, and asks
Giuliana why the smoke is yellow. Which she replies it is poisonous, and demands the young boy
to stay away from the smoke. My personal theory is Giuliana the character in the film is
Geryon’s mother. The character is self center and in a world of her own, and while the film was
going on, her young son remained in the same spot in which we were introduced to Giuliana. I
believe Carson found the inspiration for the character because she might have wondered how
Giuliana would be as a mother. And she created Giuliana’s relationship with her son through
Geryon and his mother. The young boy in the film seemed resilient much like Geryon. The boy
didn’t want a bite of the sandwich, the young boy wanted to know what the yellow smoke was.
Much like Geryon, the young boy was curious of his surroundings. There is a defiant connection
between Desrto Rosso and The Autobiography of Red, and I see it in the film’s protagonist and
the books supporting character. Also Anne Carson seemed to be fond of Monica Vitti. Vitti the
actress who portrayed Guiliana in Deserto Rosso was featured in some of Carson’s poetry. It is
logical to assume she would base her on the mother in her novel.
Geryon friendship Hercules
Geryon and Hercules were bitter rivals in Greek Mythology. Carson puts a spin on the
relationship and not only makes the two best of friends but also lovers. The relationship was like
a soft romantic teen comedy relationship. Hercules was teaching Geryon about life, while
Geryon started to fall in love with the man. What explains putting the two together? Greek
Mythology Hercules murders Geryon, though, in the novel Hercules is Geryon’s out. Hercules
represents the good in Geryon’s life. Unlike the support he would get at home. And then
eventually dealing with his sexuality puts a spin on things. I had gotten the feeling Geryon began
to not trust Hercules because he was to true of friend, meaning what is he in it for? Why is he so
concerned? This may have been trauma because of his brother molesting him during his
childhood. His brother was using Geryon as a source of sexual entertainment for his new
beginnings (puberty).
Geryon the Character vs. Geryon the Monster
Personally I was feeling that the character was named Geryon, instead of the monster being the
protagonist. I thought the book was about a boy named Geryon. Then eventually we find out.
From readings the Monster is portrayed as intimidating, hostile, and evil. The monster Geryon is
a giant, he had three heads, and portrayed as unstoppable. Only a hero such as Hercules could
take down the mammoth. By all means the monster Geryon wouldn’t be the type to have mother
issues. And the monster Geryon doesn’t seem all too concerned about friendship. And if you
were to assault the monster Geryon he would likely kill you. So where does Anne Carson get her
interpretation of Geryon from? How can Carson take a mammoth like Geryon and break him
down to a small confused boy, reminiscent of Holden Caulfield. Take Holden Caulfield for
example. The protagonist in the Catcher in the Rye. The main similarities I can see between
Geryon and Holden Caulfield is childlike behavior. Caulfield’s main objective in the Catcher in
the Rye, were too protect the innocence of children due to the death of his younger brother Allie.
Geryon’s main objective was to protect his own innocence, though, still willing to come of age.
In Dante’s Divine Comedy Geryon is portrayed as a beast with a large tail. The picture resembles
if I were to draw up Satan. Even though Carson based the book on the monster, I couldn’t
imagine more of contrast between the two.
Concluding Autobiography of Red
Autobiography of Red resembles so many different outlets. I attempted to make as many
connections as I can. I could make many more text to world, or text to text connections. The
novel was truly a coming of age tail with a spin. Geryon a confused adolescent who was abused,
and then finds love, the only love he could find is in a man. The story is as original as you can
get. Then eventually, researching the mythological figure Geryon. And going on to see a
difference in the myth and the novels character, and Carson’s explanation of what became of
Geryon. Carson’s prequel to the mythological figure is eventful and exciting. Carson modernized
the childhood of Geryon, and told his childhood story. A childhood story in which created him as
a beastly evil mythological figure.
Work Cited Page
Autobiography of Red author Anne Carson
Natural Born Killers (1994) director Oliver Stone
In Greek Mythology, Who was Geryon? Wisegeek.com
Deserto Rosso (English) Red Desert (1964) Michelangelo Antonioni
The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger
Dante’s Divine Comedy Dante Alighieri
