Carnality

Throughout the novel, the author uses both Mercuro’s first person oral account and Lucia’s first person epistolary account in order to explore the ways in which carnal desire dictates the human experience. In the novel’s opening section, “Mercuro,” once Bennedith invites Mercuro into her home, his first person monologue consumes the narrative space. Throughout this portion of the section, Mercuro conveys his life story prior to meeting Bennedith, an account which centers around his infidelity, his desperation to atone for his infidelity, and his involvement with Carnality. Throughout his account, Mercuro embraces the same honesty he embraces while on the show. He therefore tells Bennedith, as he did Miss Pink, Mister Blue, and Lucia: “I’ve been unfaithful and I’ve been a liar. My urges, my desires, kept hounding me and led me to make mistakes. It feels good to be able...