“Middlesex” (529 pages) meshes the stories of three generations that focuses on Middlesex (a family house) and a reference to the major plot of the genetic abnormality, resulting in hermaphoditism (middle-sex).
The author’s imagination is striking. While the mutated gene originated centuries before in Turkey, the immediate source of this abnormality was Callie’s grandparents who were, in fact, siblings growing up in a small village of Greeks in Turkey. Two events shaped Callie’s destiny. The small Greek village in Turkey offered only two choices for Lefty’s wife; he preferred his sister. Secondly, in order to escape the Turk invasion in the early 20th century, they had to escape and marriage was a safer mechanism to maneuver through Ellis Island, the ultimate destiny. While their two children escaped the mutation, one of the son’s children became the victim. How their lives intersected and developed proves a worthwhile adventure.
The pathos generated by a sexual disorder and gender confusion may be extreme, but confusion about our identity and our role even within the network of family and friends can be a struggle, at least at times. Only by recognizing that the confusion can be resolved through our own acceptance of ourselves can we achieve a sense of purpose and peace.
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