"The Swimmer," written by John Cheever follows the journey of the main character, Neddy Merrill and his struggles with alcoholism. Living in a wealthy community; full of golf courses, tennis courts and lots of parties, Neddy lives an envious lifestyle, but in the end the journey doesn't seem so desirous. Struggles surface as alcohol became the center of all interactions with those in his community. Cheever uses symbolism to describe different phases of Neddy's life and reflects on how a life of alcoholism is a constant sink or swim battle. Neddy discovers the power of alcohol has destroyed his life, stripped him of his social status, and in the end leaves him alone, all while still craving alcohol. In the beginning, Neddy is sitting poolside …show more content…
with his wife Lucinda and friends; Helen and Donald Westerhazy. The scene was described as, "...one of those midsummer Sundays when everyone sits around saying, "I drank too much last night." You might have heard it whispered by the parishioners leaving church, heard it from the lips of the priest himself..." (77). To clarify, this was an attempt to normalize the excess drinking that was done within the community. Neddy's view of life was described as being careless in that, "life was not confining and the delight he took in this observation could not be explained by its suggestion of escape" (78). With this in mind, his escape was turning to alcohol. While holding a glass of gin in his hand and looking into the green waters of the Westerhazy's pool, Neddy decides to jump in.
Perhaps the green water suggests that Neddy didn't have a clear vision of what he was jumping into. Being described as having the "...slenderness of youth..." yet being "...far from young...", can lead one to envision a healthy middle-aged man (77). However, after Neddy jumped into the pool, "he had been swimming and now was breathing deeply, stertorously as if he could gulp into his lungs the components of that moment, the heat of the sun, the intenseness of his pleasure" (77). To point out swimming and gulping into the lungs, could be a symbolism of when Neddy first began to drown in his life of …show more content…
alcoholism. Leaving the Westerhazy's, Neddy decides to swim what he calls the Lucinda River, which is made up of all the swimming pools along his pathway to home. Visiting all his neighbors included having a drink and living "...in a world so generously supplied with water seemed like a clemency, a beneficence." In this case, it can be seen how readily available alcohol was amongst his neighbors, which is beneficial for an alcoholic. At the first stop, Mrs. Graham offers Neddy a drink, he seems reluctant "...but the hospitable customs and traditions of the natives would have to be handled with diplomacy if he was ever going to reach his destination. He did not want to mystify or seem rude to the Grahams..." (79). Notably, this could indicate that Neddy chose to drink as a way to establish his social status within his community and that it would be rude or offensive to decline a drink, in addition, it was a way for him to justify being an alcoholic. Furthermore, at one point in the journey, Neddy is seen "standing barefoot in the deposits of the highway-beer cans, rags, and blowout patches-exposed to all kinds of ridicule, he seemed pitiful" (82). This appears to be the beginning of his downfall, possibly reaching the darkest stages of his alcoholism. However, "He could not go back, he could not even recall with any clearness the green water at the Westerhazey's..." (82). Under those circumstances, Neddy appeared to feel stuck in his alcoholic lifestyle. "In the space of an hour, more or less, he had covered a distance that made his return impossible" (82). For this reason, it is possible that alcohol eventually lead Neddy to a life of crime. Cheever's description of the visit to the public pool seems comparative to a life in prison and even a probationary period. For example, "A pair of lifeguards in a pair of towers blew police whistles at what seemed to be regular intervals and abused the swimmers through a public-address system" and "...had to swim with his head above water to avoid collisions, but even so he was bumped into, splashed and jostled" (83). The possibility of crime and turmoil is further supported by one neighbor, Grace Biswanger, who brings up the suggestion that he had faced some financial troubles which may have lead him to serve time in jail. She was overheard saying, "They went for broke overnight – nothing but income – and he showed up drunk one Sunday and asked us to loan him five thousand dollars..." (86). In addition, another neighbor, Mrs. Halloran had said, "We've been terribly sorry to hear about all your misfortunes, Neddy." To which Neddy replied, "My misfortunes … I don't know what you mean" (84). Thus, Neddy still seems complacent in is dependence of alcohol. Consequently, Neddy was no longer viewed or accepted in his social circle the same as he was before his alcohol addiction.
Such as, when Neddy arrived at Grace Biswanger's house, he was referred to as, "...a gate crasher..." (86). Whereas, previously, "the Biswanger's would invite Neddy and Lucinda for dinner four times a year, six weeks in advance" (85). While at the Biswanger's party, Neddy ordered a whiskey and the bartender served him rudely, as if he wasn't welcome. By the same token, Neddy stopped to visit Shirley Adams, whom he assumed would be happy to see him, as she was an old mistress. But, even she seemed perturbed by his presence, saying, "Good Christ, will you ever grow up?", as well as, "if you are here for money … I won't give you another cent" (87). Neddy tried to ask Shirley for a drink, but she denied him, stating she wasn't alone to get him to leave. Realizing he wasn't welcome in the same sense anymore, Neddy began to cry; "it was probably the first time in his adult life that he had ever cried, certainly the first time in his life that he had ever felt so miserable, cold, tired, and bewildered"
(87). Finally, Neddy arrives home to find the house dark, and assumes it is late and his wife and children had gone off to bed. He notices "the force of the thunderstorm had knocked one of the rain gutters loose. It hung down over the front door like an umbrella rib, but it could be fixed in the morning" (88). The house was locked, "...[shouting and pounding] on the door, [Neddy] tried to force it with his shoulder, and then, looking in the windows, saw that the place was empty" (88) Ultimately, Neddy lost many friendships, his home was damaged and abandoned, leaving him cold and alone. But just like a typical alcoholic, he believes everything can be fixed in the morning.
water, curved and smooth and green.'; This seems to illustrate the peacefulness of the situation, almost creating a lazy, calm atmosphere. However, the imagery within “The Swimmer'; is quite opposite. “The Swimmer'; tends to portray a scene of force, as there is no evidence of the peaceful interaction between man and water as found in “Lone Bather.'; Evidence of such force ...
Drinking: A love story by Caroline Knapp is a memoir of Knapp’s love story with alcohol. The novel is in told is Knapp’s point of view in which she tells the story of her downward spiral of her addictive nature. She describes how the effect alcohol had on her emotions, relationship, and thoughts. The beginning of the book explains how she became an alcoholic which further progresses to how she knew she had a problem. She was first introduced to alcohol by her father, whom she has a good relationship with as he seemed to worry about her feelings because he had related to them.
The main ideas that are expressed in John Cheever's The Swimmer, is how Neddy lives through a variety of stages of alcoholism and how they each affect his everyday life. In The Swimmer, Neddy takes daily swims through multiple swimming pools. This represents the journeys in his life. He goes from being cheerful to complete sadness and depression. When Neddy is or is not swimming also represents the emotions he is going through. For example, when Neddy is not swimming, he will feel down or angry for no apparent reason. Because of his alcohol addiction, he is usually looking for alcohol during this period of time. Once he has had a few drinks, he is feeling much better and is ready to swim again. “He needed a drink. Whiskey would warm him, pick him up, carry him ...
One in every twelve adults suffer from alcoholism in the United States, and it is the most commonly used addictive substance in the world. The World Health Organization has defined alcoholism as “an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency.” Reiterated themes encompassing Jeannette Walls’ father’s addiction to alcohol are found in her novel, The Glass Castle: a memoir, which displays instances of financial instability and abuse that hurt the Walls children for the rest of their lives. The Walls’, altogether, are emotionally, physically, and mentally affected by Rex’s alcoholism, which leads to consequences on the Walls children.
It is a fact of life that Alcoholism will distort the victim’s view of reality. With authors, they put parts of their personality and symptoms of their condition into their characters sometimes, flawed distortions included, with varying degrees
In the short story The Swimmer by John Cheever, one of the dominant themes is the passage of time. In this short story time seems to pass as reality does with us unaware of its passing. The main character is the protagonist hero, Neddy Merrill who embarks on a traditional theme of a homeward journey. The scene opens on a warm mid-summer day at an ongoing pool party with Neddy and his wife Lucinda. The pool is “fed by an artesian well with a high iron content, was a pale shade of green.
Foremost, both stories are about men who once were very prosperous, but created their own demise. In “The Swimmer”, Neddy, the main character, initially seems to have a perfect life. “His life was not confining and the delight he took in this observation could not be explained...” (Cheever 216) He had a perfect family, high social status and very few problems in his life, or so he thought. His life is so wonderful that anything objectionable is repressed. Not until he takes the “journey” into realization, where he learns through others that his life has fallen apart. Neddy’s character is very similar to Charlie from “Babylon Revisited”. Charlie was very splendid in fortune until, he lost both his wife and his daughter due to his uncontrollable alcoholism. However, after “controlling” his drinking problem, he decides that he wants nothing to d...
“The Swimmer” is an allegory that is narrated in third person point of view as someone who is observing Neddy’s journey. This enables the reader to discover the reactions of friends and neighbors as Neddy arrives at their homes while still revealing the shift of the round character’s own attitude and feelings as his journey through life continues. Cheever wisely tells the story from a perspective in which the reader can still be connected to Neddy from the beginning to the end of the story while learning how his actions have disappointed others and not just himself. It also uncovers the involvement of each character and their relationship with Neddy before and after his mid-life crisis. If this story was told from any other point of view then the reader would only be obtaining one sided, in a sense a close minded, version whereas with a third person point of view the reader is approached to the entire situation given all perspectives. It guides the reader from one meaningful piece to another on an even level without any bias impressions while the story is being delivered.
John Cheever uniquely crafted the story “The Swimmer” by using a mix of surrealism and realism throughout the story. Most people when they read “The Swimmer” they have to reevaluate it to comprehend what is happening. The reason for that is because Cheever shifts between surrealism and realism so much that the reader does not even notice. The story starts out with Neddy being so strong and youthful, but as the story goes on he weakens and ages. When he was youthful Neddy decided to swim every pool in his neighborhood. As he ages and weakens, the pools get harder to swim and the seasons pass without him even noticing.
“The Swimmer” by John Cheever is a short story about Neddy Merrill and his journey through alcoholism. Alcoholism plays a detrimental role in Neddy Merrill’s life because it has been ruined due to his dependence on this awful substance. The author symbolically presents the stages of alcoholism, its effects on the alcoholic, as well as how the alcoholic’s family and friends change towards Neddy.
Throughout the story Cheever’s character, Neddy, describes the various colors of each pool. Starting at the Westerhazy’s, their pool is “a pale shade of green” His first stop, after deciding about his adventure, is at “sapphire-colored waters” at the Bunkers’ (298). Some pools later he comes across the Welchers’ where “he found their pool was dry” (300). The next waters described are “murk” and “opaque gold” (301). The last one Neddy comes across has “a wintry gleam” (303). The narrator describes Neddy as “a slender man—he seemed to have the especial slenderness of youth…far from young…” (297). He has already started drinking at the Westerhazy’s and the youthful description portrays the beginning effects of alcohol—as though he can accomplish anything he wishes. The sapphire water gives the impression that the Bunkers’ are well off and Neddy can help himself to their bar. When he arrives at the Welchers’, he finds they have packed up and drained their pool. This hints at a look at reality where alcohol doesn’t cure anything and foreshadows tha...
In John Cheever’s, “The Swimmer”, on a hot summer Sunday ,while sitting by the pool with his wife and neighbors, as they all complained about their hangovers, a man of higher status named Needy Merrill decides to get home by swimming through the pools in his county. When Needy first starts off his journey he feels young and enthusiastic; he is then greeted in a joyous manner by his neighborhood friends. Apparently, Needy is a well-known and respected man. As his journey progresses he starts seeing red and orange leaves; he then realizes that it was fall. In the middle of his journey he starts to endure some turmoil, but he does not let that stop his journey. As his journey ends, Needy starts to come encounter with some people who constantly mention his misfortune and struggle with his family. Needy does not remember any of the turmoil that had been going on in his life, and starts to wonder if his memory is failing him. Towards the end, many of the people that came encounter with treated him rudely. Needy realizes that something must have went wrong in his life. When Needy arrives home, he sees that his house is empty and that his family is gone. In “The Swimmer “, John Cheever uses setting to symbolize the meaning of the story.
In John Cheever’s short story, “The Swimmer” he conveys the transformation of the character through the use of the literary element of setting. The story begins in an American, middle class, suburbs. After what seems to be a night of partying and drinking. Neddy Merrill, the main character initially appears very optimistic; he has a perfect family, high social status and very few problems in his life. In spite of his age, he feels young and energetic therefore decides to swim across town through the neighborhood pools. However, his journey becomes less and less enjoyable as the day unfolds. The water become murky, uninviting and he becomes exhausted. Also the people in his surrounding become less cordial including his mistress who wants nothing to do with him. His voyage then comes to an end when he arrives to an empty, abandoned home. The central idea suggests that an unhealthy obsession with the materialistic aspects of life can lead to alienation.
One of the main ideas that is conveyed in John Cheever's The Swimmer is the way in which life consists of different mental stages and how they each affect the consciousness of the mind. In The Swimmer, Neddy goes through different swimming pools and this represents the different journeys in his life. He progresses from boundless optimism to endless despair as the seasons go by. The times when Neddy is in or out of the water also represents the emotions he is going through and perhaps can correlate to the emotions felt throughout the duration of ones life. For example, when Neddy is not swimming, he tends to feel down or aggravated. During this sad period, he is usually in search of alcohol. Even after he has had a drink or two, he is always ready to go back into the pools, which shows a lot about Neddy's ambitious character. Neddy's journey through the pools is longer than an afternoon. In fact, we see this when he mentions the "storm passing" and the season change is shown through the phrase "red and yellow leaves." When Neddy finally reaches home, he is tired and weak. This displays aging through life and how one becomes fatigued easily as life goes on. When he sees that no one is home, it is obvious that Neddy's journey has come to an end and it seems as though Neddy has died, because his home can symbolize the heart and the soul, and since no one is home, Neddy's heart and soul is dead.
By the time the alcohol touches the tongue, the storm has already begun. John Cheever’s relationship with alcohol is presented throughout the short story “The Swimmer”, and used the character, Ned Merrill, to represent the struggles he experienced. Addiction and the need for alcohol drove this character into a storm he couldn't retreat from. In “The Swimmer” Cheever uses a physical storm and the changes in the weather, to show the path of drinking, and becoming an alcoholic. It begins with joy and excitement, then turns to something casual and frequent, but eventually leads to misfortune and a miserable life. Nobody desires to be lead to an unpleasant storm, that comes with drinking alcohol.