"Greasy Lake" is a short story by American novelist and short story writer T. Coraghessan Boyle. The story centers on a small group of young men who represent skewed ideas of social rebellion, self-image, and masculinity. The narrator describes himself and his friends as "bad boys" who try to break out of society's mold. However, the narrator is not truly a "bad boy" but is simply lost in an adolescent world of social pressure, unhealthy self-image, and dangerous idealism. The narrator also tells the story as a mature adult, so his perspective on his younger self is similar to that of an older brother.

The duality of the younger version of the narrator and the narrator in the present day shows how much a person can evolve over the years. They are, in essence, two different people from two different timelines who happen to occupy the same body. The person he once was is now a stranger to the person he is today. The story recounts various misadventures he had with his friends—particularly their trip to a barren lake in Southern California—all of which illustrates that an individual can only grow and learn through experiences, especially shared experiences with friends. By seeing how others react to certain situations, you are able to figure out how you should carry yourself based on your own morals and critical thinking.

Another element of the story is that T. Coraghessan Boyle uses imagery of war, particularly subtle references to the Vietnam War, which is around the time when the story was set. The titular lake is described as similar to a barren war zone. The appearance of Greasy Lake, along with its name, is a reflection of the internal void and existential despair of the narrator and his friends. They are upper-middle class, one of whom is being sponsored by his parents to go to Cornell, an Ivy League university. This contradiction shows the emptiness of their rebellion and perceived image, which is similar to the lake.