A Pearl in a Mussel

“‘Among their [the Yamana] variations of the verb
“to bite” was a word that meant “to come surprisingly on a hard substance
when eating something soft
e.g. a pearl in a mussel.”’” (Carson 80).

As Geryon gets older, he slowly begins to accept that he likely will not see Herakles again. In other words, he is “eating something soft;” though he doesn’t know it, he will soon come upon something hard. His life is not necessarily mundane, but it seems to be going as he expects it to. However, the reappearance of Herakles serves as the moment that Geryon “come[s] surprisingly upon a hard substance” in the midst of his eating something soft. Herakles throws a wrench in Geryon’s plans and brings him to Peru. The moment on page 107, where Herakles and Geryon reunite in the middle of a bookstore in Buenos Aires, serves as a moment that Geryon begins to reevaluate his life. This reevaluation, however, actually comes in the seconds before Herakles appears, where Geryon thinks, “Kissing makes them happy…and a sense of fruitlessness pierced him” (Carson 107). Geryon feels like everything he is doing is pointless; perhaps, indeed, it is a mundane life, eating something soft and only getting what he expects. Herakles, then, could potentially be a welcome change to Geryon’s everyday sameness, but if this were the case, then why does Geryon (and even Ancash) seem so utterly exhausted of Herakles’ buoyant personality and neverending presence? On the streets of Buenos Aires, the reader sees “Herakles jumping ahead like a dog / smelling everything and pointing at objects in the shops. Ancash and Geryon / came behind” (Carson 113). In Peru, “A silence tossed itself across the tall gold heads of the fennel stalks between them [Ancash and Geryon]. / Into this silence burst Herakles” (Carson 144). Herakles consistently jumps into and out of scenes; his personality bubbles up over the top of any container Geryon or Ancash try to hold him in, and he acts childish in almost every way possible. These circumstances lead me to believe that Geryon now merely tolerates adult Herakles, who still acts immature in every way except sexually. Therefore, it is not difficult to believe that if Herakles is the “hard substance” that Geryon comes upon surprisingly, Herakles is not entirely welcome, but simply accepted and moved past.

2 thoughts on “A Pearl in a Mussel”

  1. I love this analysis on the ways that Geryon digests Herakles rather than enjoying what the substance that he is. I agree that there are moments when Geryon almost confuses himself in wondering what his body reacts to when seeing Herakles but also his mind is pretty made up about his perception of the older Herakles he comes to know in the book. I also wonder what are the ways in which Herakles benefits off of Geryon’s dilemma? Is it too far to suggest that he’s intentionally manipulating Geryon because he understands that he won’t be turned down? Or is he just a reckless human that lives off of the thrills in life? Herakles’ response to Geryon crying after they had sex was telling of how he doesn’t truly consider Geryon’s emotional tensions. He blatantly asks, “can’t you ever just fuck and not think?” (Carson 141) Herakles is straightforward with how he feels but, is there more to it? Is he gaslighting Geryon because it’s “Just like the old days?” (141)

  2. Perhaps the quote has to do more with Geryon and his transformation instead of Herakles and his reappearance. I think “a pearl in a muscle” is similar to a diamond in the rough. Both take a long time to be made and it is through trials and tribulations (such as the abuse he experienced and family issues) that they are made. Geryon is slowly becoming the beautiful pearl that he was meant to be and the layers are still building up. Herakles coming back into his life is definitely a surprise in Geryon’s life but by the end we see Geryon realize Herakles is part of his past and he is ready to move on without being pulled back to the past. Geryon is the surprise in all the soft, mediocre life he has surprised himself with all that he could be.

Comments are closed.