Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, the internal struggles are paralleled with each setting. Set in the twentieth century, each setting plays a significant role in explaining a theme in the novel. Escaping from Greece in a time of war and entering Detroit Michigan as immigrants are parallel events to the next generation of relatives fleeing from Grosse Pointe Michigan to San Francisco These settings complement one of the main themes of the novel, society has always believed that something was missing in their life and attempted to fill the missing piece. Desdemona and Lefty's struggle as they flee Greece, during a time of war, parallels Cal's struggle as he finds himself in Grosse Pointe and flees to. San Francisco. Desdemona and Lefty are crossing a war zone to find a boat to reach America while struggling to keep their love for each other under wraps, Desdemona and Lefty's struggle to hide their love parallels the struggle of. Cal as a young man following Desdemona and Lefty's incestuous marriage. Desdemona and Lefty's escape to Detroit, Michigan gives them the chance to live for who they truly are, two people....