Middlesex

I really enjoyed reading Middlesex for my free-choice. I have unfortunately not been reading very much on my own this year, so it was awesome to read a book that I would have chosen for myself had I walked through Barnes and Noble. I find it interesting that literally every character has a battle to fight. Desdemona and Lefty are plagued by their incestuous relationship and must live their life in secret and also they must face whatever consequences their relationship might create. Additionally, Milton and Tessie struggle to be successful within American society. Milton struggles to support his family while Tessie struggles to accept her children and embrace their lifestyles. Additionally, they have to deal with Chapter Eleven’s bizarre phases and Calliope’s unique condition. Speaking of Chapter Eleven, the name says it all. The term “Chapter Eleven” can be associated with United States code for bankruptcy. So, Chapter Eleven must deal with the financial ruin that he digs himself into. Also, throughout the novel he tries to find himself through drug experimentation and free thinking. He battles society and himself all throughout Middlesex. And of course Calliope has his/her own battle to fight. She struggles to first be the girl that she is expected to be. She becomes frustrated with her slow physical development and her awkward body appearance. By the end of the book, Callie has become Cal and he thus now battles to be a perfect male. Although Cal has endured all types of difficulties in life, he still struggles to be completely comfortable with himself. Every other character really had an issue of some sort as well. I like that Eugenides includes every character’s personal battle because he is able to include the reader in one way or another. Some of my favorite parts of the novel were the discreet things. I love how Desdemona’s spoon predicts Calliope’s sex even though it appears to be incorrect. It was kind of a battle between old world cultures versus the new world cultures, and in this case, old world wins. I also love that his name is Calliope. In Greek Mythology, Calliope is the muse of poetry. She wrote several epics such as the Odyssey and Iliad. It makes sense that Cal, being named after her, is on an adventure of his own. Attempting to live life as a hermaphrodite is brave and dangerous, just like the men Calliope wrote about in her poems. Also, I like that hair is a symbol throughout the novel. Desdemona is forced to chop her hair when she enters America. This symbolizes the shedding of her old life. Later, Cal discusses the constant waxing that women must endure. Again, hair is used, this time to portray the beginning of womanhood. Lastly, Callie becomes Cal by chopping her long hair into a boy’s haircut. She has abandoned her life as a girl just as Desdemona abandoned her life in Greece. Eugenides’ use of so many minute details makes for a wonderful read.