In “Greasy Lake” by TC Boyle, the setting reflects the rebirth the main character undergoes. The main character observes the scenery around him before the lake and while he is still naive and attempting to be “bad.” He goes into the murky lake and emerges a new person. This becomes apparent because of the narrator's description of the scenery around him in a whole new way.
Initially, the narrator explains how he wore a veil of toughness in an endeavour to appear cool. He discusses drinking and doing drugs and all the other dangerous activities he participated in. It is also revealed that he drives his mother’s car and it is implied that he isn’t as cool as he believes he is by the over the top way he describes all the tough things that he does