Fear Of Change In John Cheever's 'The Wrysons'

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The fear of change is a typical thing for people to have. However, in the short story “The Wrysons” by John Cheever, Irene and Donald’s fear of change is taken to a different new level. The Wrysons completely reject all types of modifications and all people who are different from their thought of “ordinary.” Through the use of symbolism, tone, and the Wryson’s demand to maintain their utopia, John Cheever develops a theme of disdain towards change which ultimately results in paranoia and desire for control. Irene’s reoccurring nightmare and the town’s name of Shady Hill are both present in the story as symbols to represent the Wryson’s bitterness towards change. Quite frequently, Irene has a dream of a hydrogen bomb exploding and ending the …show more content…

People and actions around her become violent and everything is the opposite of mundane. Within the chaos of the dream, Irene attempts to save herself and her daughter from suffering a ghastly death. She searches through her medicine cabinet, the only unorganized, messy place in her home, for a pill that will end her life as well as her daughter’s in a peaceful way. Before they can take the pill, the house collapses and awakens her from her nightmare. “The dream cost her much in energy and composure, and often left her deeply depressed,” (223) The aftershock that Irene experiences after her dream, symbolizes how much change fazes her entirely. The town’s name of “Shady Hill” is another symbol to emphasis the Wrysons hatred for change. By referring to the town as “shady,” Cheever wishes to portray the town as an area that is isolated and shielded from the rest of the world. Additionally, by describing the neighborhood to be on …show more content…

Instead of describing the Wrysons as lousy and stubborn people, Cheever characterizes them as peculiar and odd. “In a place where even cooks were known to have Picasso reproductions hanging above their washstands, the Wrysons’ taste in painting stopped at marine sunsets and bowls of flowers,” (222) The Wrysons’ stubbornness to accept new, modern ideas shows their apprehension towards assimilating with the rest of society. Cheever’s decision to portray the Wrysons’ as bizarre instead of obstinate contributes to their decision to reject modern

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