Autobiography of Red Character Analysis

Geryon

The protagonist, Geryon, is based on the monster Herakles slew in Greek mythology. The Geryon of the novel is a red-winged monster who lives on an island called “the Red Place,” located somewhere… read analysis of Geryon

Herakles

In Greek mythology, Herakles is the hero who slays the monster Geryon. In Carson’s adaptation of the myth, Herakles is Geryon’s first love who later breaks his heart. They meet when both boys are… read analysis of Herakles

Ancash

Ancash is Herakles’s lover when Herakles is in his twenties. He and Herakles are traveling the world recording volcanoes for a documentary about Emily Dickinson when they unexpectedly cross paths with Geryon in Buenos… read analysis of Ancash

Geryon’s Mother

The novel doesn’t offer many details about Geryon’s mother besides Geryon’s description of her in his autobiography as a “river that runs to the sea,” and the fact that she smokes cigarettes. Nevertheless, Geryon… read analysis of Geryon’s Mother

Geryon’s Brother

Geryon’s older brother is a bully who picks on and manipulates Geryon into engaging in sexual acts with him (and keeping quiet about it) by promising Geryon a “cat’s eye” marble and other rewards… read analysis of Geryon’s Brother

Herakles’s Grandmother

Herakles’s grandmother lives with Herakles’s mother and the rest of Herakles’s family in Hades. She’s a wise, chatty old woman who likes to tell long-winded stories about her travels to Argentina and her past… read analysis of Herakles’s Grandmother

Ancash’s Mother

Ancash’s mother is a Peruvian woman who lives in Lima on the roof of the house of a wealthy couple who employ her as a maid. Her self-proclaimed “favorite place” is the rooftop garden… read analysis of Ancash’s Mother

Stesichoros

Stesichoros was an ancient Greek lyric poet. Carson based Autobiography of Red on surviving fragments of Stesichoros’s poem, Geryoneis. The opening sections of Autobiography of Red provide a historical and literary context for Stesichoros’s… read analysis of Stesichoros

Lava Man

According to Herakles’s grandmother’s story, Lava Man was the sole survivor of the 1923 volcanic eruption and decimated Hades. Lava Man was imprisoned in a local jail at the time of the eruption. Although… read analysis of Lava Man

Tango Singer

The tango singer performs at Caminito, a tango bar Geryon stumbles into one night in Buenos Aires. Geryon dislikes tango songs and fades in and out of consciousness during her performance. He awakens after… read analysis of Tango Singer

Minor Characters

Geryon’s Grandmother

Geryon’s grandmother moves in with Geryon’s family after suffering a bad fall. This forces Geryon to share a room with his older brother, who subsequently begins to sexually abuse Geryon.

Babysitter

The babysitter watches Geryon and Geryon’s brother when Geryon is young child.

The Yellowbeard

The yellowbeard is a philosopher from Irvine, California whom Geryon meets on his trip to Buenos Aires. He invites Geryon to attend his talk on “emotionlessness.”

Lazer

Lazer is a philosopher whom Geryon meets at a bar in Buenos Aires. They have a brief but meaningful conversation about time, “distances,” and mortality.

Herakles’s Mother

Herakles’s mother lives in Hades with the rest of Herakles’s family.

Geryon’s Father

Geryon’s father doesn’t have much of a role in the story. In Geryon’s autobiography, he states that “[his] father / was gold.”