AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RED
Autobiography of Red (1998) is a groundbreaking romance in verse by Canadian poet Anne Carson. It reimagines the Greek myth of Geryon, a red-winged monster killed by Herakles, transforming him into a contemporary adolescent navigating love, identity, and memory.
Plot Overview
The novel follows Geryon from childhood to adulthood. Sensitive and different, he hides his wings under a coat while discovering photography as a way to capture and preserve time. His passionate relationship with Herakles brings both intensity and heartbreak, leaving Geryon to confront desire, loss, and self-discovery.
Key Themes
- Desire and Vulnerability: Geryon’s love for Herakles is tender yet painful.
- Identity and Difference: His red body and wings symbolize otherness and visibility.
- Memory and Art: Photography becomes a refuge, a way to hold onto fleeting moments.
- Myth and Modernity: Carson blends ancient myth with contemporary life, creating a hybrid narrative.
Why It’s Innovative
Carson blurs the boundaries between poetry and prose, myth and modern narrative. Autobiography of Red is considered one of the most experimental and influential verse novels of the last fifty years, followed by its sequel Red Doc> (2013).