Spectrum Shifting
Middlesex questions and attacks the notion of identity. It demonstrates how our sexual identity reaches far beyond so-called “orientation” and takes root in race, gender and family relations. The first half of the book closely follows the structure of a kinship alliance. Desdemona and Lefty demonstrate loyalty to their Greek heritage, perhaps Desdemona moreso than Lefty. Yet the same Greek village that would prevent Desdemona and Lefty from getting married and having children under normal circumstances somehow gives them free allegiance to do so. In being together they keep the Greek heritage more alive even as they assimilate in America. Once in America they stick close with family and in a curious phenomena that seems unique to their immigrant status, the Stephanides family has 3 generations living under one roof. Loyalty to family in this case is synonymous to loyalty to heritage. With each generation the Greek roots become increasingly shed for Americanization. Even in Desdemona there is a merging of Greek and American culture that morphs to become entirely its own with her soap opera fanaticism. In Calliope we see the Americanized teen and yet less so than her peers perhaps. There is a struggle early on for Cal to be normal and to strive to be like the Charm Bracelets and yet all the while there is a disgust for them. While Cal fluctuates between breaking with her Greek past and sticking with it (her brother is a great mirror for the break) her own identity becomes shaped and sets the stage for more confusion when the element of gender is added. Calliope has a self-identity and an image to maintain. She strives to be the beautiful, charming girl among the gazelles that are her classmates. The passage on page 312 is particularly telling as to how this manifests:
“Two pink Daisy razors stood upright…kissed a bottle of ‘Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific.’… a shaker of Love’s Baby Soft body power…two bottles of perfume…Max Factor eye makeup”
Overcompensation much? She is not developing like the other girls and doesn’t feel beautiful and thus she puts her effort into being as “womanly” as possible. Is this the same overcompensation that we see with the somehow very American façade of the Mercedes Benz, the suburban house, and the hot-dog company that characterize the Stephanides family? The exterior tells her that she is female and so she believes it is so. But what is the difference between a woman lusting after women, a man lusting after women or some combination of the two? There is a clear guilt factor with Calliope knowing that being a girl she shouldn’t fool around with girls. Calliope’s identity as a girl is swiftly swept away leaving her open to so many possibilities and yet utterly lost. What are the rules for a hermaphrodite? She identifies with the male side more and yet still feels both. Cal still appears to carry the guilt of his attractions that he developed in youth and this is evident by his hesitancy in romances. How has growing up “female” effected how he interacts with women? How has the lack of gender identity both freed and restricted Cal?
May 6th, 2013 at 9:56 am
This is an excellent post on resisting imposed identities–but please disclose yours to get credit for it!