A portrait of modern life in carnal knowledgeT. “Carnal Knowledge” by C. Boyle is a very entertaining yet truthful portrayal of some of the things happening in the world today. His description of the narrator and his way of thinking, as well as his portrayal of Alena Jorgensen, leaves the reader wondering if they have ever believed so strongly in something or if they have ever acted the same way to achieve their goal. What makes this story so unique is that it takes place in our world, in a world where some people are "into Kentucky Fried Chicken or Chicken McNuggets" (245) and others "don't eat meat or fish or milk or cheese or eggs, and wore no wool, leather, or fur" (248). TC Boyle uses his sarcastic, yet believable style to make the reader feel like they are in the main character's shoes. The author guides the reader through the different stages of the character's evolution and shows how different aspects of society influence his thinking. Ultimately, the character concludes, just as I did, that no matter what people say “it's just meat” (257). The story begins with the narrator who is a man in his mid-thirties, with a stable job and a normal life. The only thing missing in his life seems to be a partner. He wants to find someone he likes, who understands, and who he has something in common with, and he's tired of "getting to know a divorced computer programmer in her mid-thirties with three kids and bad breath" (246) and she like her . he meets Alena Jorgensen, is enchanted by her and begins to try to impress her, establishing common interests. He becomes almost totally submissive as their relationship grows and unconsciously begins to do things he had never thought about or cared to do before. TC Boyle shows this progression in the narrator's character by describing the character's changing behavior and aspirations. It thus shows how an ordinary man with "twentieth-century American urban sensibilities" (Utley) becomes a radical animal rights activist. "Something was happening to me, I could feel it by the way the boards shifted beneath me, I felt it with every beat of the surf and I was ready to follow it." (249).