Autobiography Of Red

Like the mythical Herakles, Carson's Herakles exhibits the strength, virility, and bravery of a classical hero. In contrast to Geryon's gentle introspection, Herakles' energy seems to be entirely physical and directed outwards. He lives with a carefree joie de vivre Geryon never seems able to enjoy. When he meets Geryon, Herakles quickly engages the younger boy in a sexual relationship, commenting once that he is "someone who will never be satisfied" (44). Later, he asks Geryon if he can "ever just fuck and not think" (141). After breaking Geryon's heart, Herakles seems unaffected, immediately moving on to spending time with "Hart" (73), a local boxer. Herakles often interrupts conversations without apology and undertakes unsolicited shows of strength, like stealing the tiger sculpture from the carousel in Harrod's. He has sex with Geryon again during their trip to Peru, without consideration for Ancash, whom is deeply hurt by the action.

Ancash is Herakles' lover when Geryon reconnects with Herakles. Geryon describes Ancash, a young Peruvian man, as "a man as beautiful as a live feather" (112). Temperamentally, Ancash seems to fall closer to Geryon than Herakles. He treats Geryon with kindness and respect, until he discovers Herakles and Geryon have had sex on their trip to Huaraz. Even then, he tends to the wounds he inflicts on Geryon after their fight, asking Geryon if he still loves Herakles. The only thing he asks of Geryon in return is to "see you use those wings" (144). Ancash also tells Geryon about the mythic "Yazcol Yazcamac" (128), or "Ones Who Went and Saw and Came Back" (128), in Huaraz. They are people who, once thrown into the local volcano, survive, grow wings, and come back as immortal "red people" (129). He warns Geryon to be careful while they're in Huaraz because some villagers are still looking for these "eyewitnesses" (130).

According to Geryon's autobiography, his unnamed mother is a "river that runs to the sea" (37). Carson doesn't give Geryon's mother a physical description beyond being a smoker. As a child, Geryon and his mother are close. Though he never tells his mother about the abuse, he seems to feel protected by her, as when she leaves for a night out, Geryon "could not breathe" (30). Geryon treasures the Tuesday nights in his youth when his father and brother leave for hockey practice and Geryon gets to spend time alone with his mother. As Geryon gets older, his mother worries about him spending so much time with Herakles, whom she never meets. When Geryon returns from his secret weekend with Herakles in Hades, Geryon's mother is upset that he lied, but forgives him quickly. They remain close through Geryon's trip to South America, which begins with one of his weekly phone calls to his mother. 

Geryon's brother treats Geryon with disrespect from the novel's beginning, calling his young brother "stupid" (24) for being afraid to walk to kindergarten by himself. He exploits and coerces Geryon into engaging in sexual behavior with him by promising him one of his "cat's-eyes" (27) and a trip to the beach. Geryon's brother continues to bully Geryon with impunity, snapping him with "a thick rubber band" (32) and calling him names. Despite their abusive relationship in childhood, Geryon's brother sometimes does decent things for Geryon, like loaning him his sports coat for the high school dance. In adulthood, Geryon's brother has become "a sportscaster at a radio station on the mainland" (82), and the two remain in contact of some kind, with Geryon writing his brother a letter from Buenos Aires, saying, "wish you were here" (82).