Middlesex Essay

Published in the year 2002, the novel Middlesex authored by Jeffrey Eugenides gained a lot of traction to become a best seller having sold over three million copies in eight years. The author's choice to utilize a rather comical approach to addressing societal perceptions and stereotypes on issues surrounding bisexuality stands out as the most significant hallmark of this epic novel and its greatest strength. The events and characters in the novel primarily revolve around the Eugenides' life having been born with twin-set genitals and the varied aspects of his life aimed at providing some sort of clarification with respect to Greek heritage to its target audience. The novel explores numerous aspects of bisexuality with its central theme seeking
These compositions helped the author to capture the attention of his audience and to help him articulate his issues profoundly. What is however shocking at the onset of the book is the consummation of an incestuous relationship between Lefty and Desdemona which he might have intended to depict the profound relation between the members of this particular society. The incest dimension also served to help the author explain the cause of bisexuality that is referred to as Middlesex, which was exhibited by the character Cal. Eugenides opines that Cal’s Middlesex situation was as a result of the 5-Alpha-reductase deficiency syndrome that was brought about by an unusual genetic mutation facilitated by inbreeding. The author also aimed to ensure that his assertions in the novel were biologically accurate and as such; he went to great lengths to bring out specific information aside from the humor and other artistic styles. Eugenides also makes a number of narrations in the novel to help shape its theme including the Silk Road Chinese legend narration which talks about a Chinese princess who noticed the unraveling of a silkworm cocoon which fell into her cup of tea. Cal's comparison of himself to the Chinese princess serves to solidify his claim as a crusader of
He tries to point out the various ethnic changes that transpire in the society as a result of the decreasing distinctive features that often defined the existing societal outfits. For instance; Desdemona and Lefty change their nationalities upon their departure from Smyrna by disguising themselves as French nationals in an attempt to gain access to the boat. The author also depicts the cultural struggles that existed at the time pitting the Greeks against the Americans and the new opportunities availed to the likes of Cal in their country of