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The short story Carnal Knowledge, by T. Coraghessan Boyle, is the story of one mans inner conflict between his lust for a beautiful activist, and his own convictions. Despite his lack of interest in Animal Rights issues, he finds himself embroiled in a steadily escalating fight for its cause. This struggle exists not because of any moral obligations, however, but to win the respect of his dear Alena, who personifies the saying: "Love me, love my cause." Because of the internal clash of interest, the story absolutely drips with irony. It is this irony that draws me to the story. Through this ironic conflict, the author defines the main character, moves the plot through its most significant actions, and develops the theme of the danger present in trying to share others ideals in order to gain acceptance.
The main character, Jim, makes his opinion on the issue of Animal Rights known very early on. "Beef, mutton, pork, venison, dripping burgers, and greasy ribs - it was all the same to me, food, the body's fuel, something to savor a moment on the tongue before the digestive tract went to work on it. " (242) However, he is willing to hide his convictions for the sake of a beautiful girl he meets on the beach, ironically, while being pissed on by her dog. His immediate thoughts of aggression towards the dog melt away, as he glances at its owner. "I was on my feet now, murderous, glad to see that the thing was hobbled - it would simplify the task of running it down and beating it to death. " (243) Alena's appearance stupefies him, and he is easily taken in by her easy grace. "I was a little disconcerted at this point - I was the one who'd been pissed on, after all - but my anger was gone. " (243) In this encounter, we begin to see the truly transient nature of Jim's emotions. This speaks volumes about the type of person he, and perhaps we all, are. As Alena becomes closer and closer to Jim, her cause becomes more and more ingrained upon him. Suddenly, protesting Animal Abuse becomes commonplace, and "Guerilla Actions" doesn't quite seem out of the question anymore. The fact that Jim doesn't half believe in the cause seems irrelevant, as he is just as incensed as the other protestors.
Alena slashed in the air with her limp mink, and the blood sang in my ears. "Murderer!" I screamed, getting into it. "Torturer, Nazi!" The strings in my neck grew very tight. I didn't know what I was saying, " (247) The appearance of Rolfe, however, changes matters. While he is still nave enough to participate in the Turkey raid, the cold wall of reality is fast approaching. The very next morning, Alena leaves for Wyoming, and Jim forlornly starts back for home, his activist pretensions shed. ""We " re the plague on this planet, don't you know that?" Suddenly I was angry. Seething.
Here I'd crouched in the bushes all night, covered in turkey crap, and now I was part of a plague. I was on my feet. "No, I don't know that. " (254) The final plot element to affect his internal struggle is the fate of the turkey's he toiled to save. The sight of their viscera spread across the highway does not disgust him, but quite the opposite occurs. This final failure of his life as an activist returns his personal perspective.
Jim has come full-circle, to dwell once again in the world of "Murderers and Torturers. ""I thought only of the cavern opening inside me and how to fill it. "Meat", and I spoke the word aloud, talking to calm myself as if I'd awakened from a bad dream, "it's only meat. "" (255) His great folly, accepting Alena's dream in order to gain her approval, failed miserably. The great irony imbedded in this short story gives it its poignancy, and its comedy as well. ""I mean, I don't eat meat myself, " I lied, "or actually, not anymore"- since the pastrami sandwich, that is - "but I don't really know any place that" I trailed of lamely. " A person can go against all they stand for, only for the chance of impressing a figure they hold in high esteem. "Carnal Knowledge" uses this conflict of personal beliefs vs. acceptable beliefs to effectively convey the nature of the main character, advance the plot through its important actions, and comment on Human Nature in general. Bibliography:
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