Cervo's Use Of Symbolism In The Swimmer

“The Swimmer” begins with Neddy and Lucinda Merill by the Westerhazy’s pool. Neddy decides to swim through the collection of neighborhood pools to find his way back home. He becomes increasingly forgetful and troubled as he gets closer to his destination, only to discover that his home is empty and abandoned. In Cervo’s accurate analytic review of “The Swimmer”, the heavy use of symbolism in Neddy Merill’s environment represents his true presence as a ghost in the pagan Underworld.

According to Cervo, there are two large pieces of evidence to support this theory. The Halloran’s pool is a representation of the Underworld River of Forgetfulness, also known as River Lethe; their home is the entrance to the pagan underworld. In Greek mythology,

the Lethe river resides on the brim of the Styx river. The Styx is a dividing barrier between the Earth and the Underworld. Spirits wander here in search for their rightful place in the afterlife. It seems that Neddy is unable to rest because he refuses to accept his alcoholism, troubled family life, and unfortunate financial situation. Neddy’s cause of death is interpreted as a suicide that could have taken place in Bullet Park. All of these acts of denial could be potential contributors that drove him to his suicide. It is odd that Neddy is so full of life in the beginning of the story, only to find that Cervo believes he resides in the underworld. Neddy may not be aware that he is suffering until it is too late.
Cervo mentions the rapid changing of seasons, but does not recognize the connection between Neddy’s fluctuating emotions and the passage of time and weather. First and foremost, the amount of denial Neddy experiences is equal to his situational awareness. His young at heart attitude makes him oblivious to the changes in his environment. As he lives through memories of his friendships and heartache, the pain clears his mental fog. The leaves transform into yellow and red hues, the summer constellations had disappeared, and a brisk chill envelops him.
Neddy Merrill is a failure who resides in the Underworld, forever lost and often repeating the same day over and over.

When the story begins, they are gathered around the pool talking about how they drank too much last night and had possibly forgotten the day before. Neddy is doomed to make his trip every day in an endless loop, but often has no recollection of it, because his journey always ends with him swimming in the River Lethe (the Halloran’s pool). On the other hand, this journey of his may only be happening this one time and serves as his punishment to relive his unfortunate memories, such as the affair and obvious financial instability. The reader can interpret Neddy as a penniless beggar based on what his neighbors say to him. His former lover, Shirley Adams, coldheartedly says, “‘If you’ve come here for money, I won’t give you another cent.’” (Cheever 2369).

The public pool may be interpreted as a place where Neddy’s dull and ultimately meaningless pursuit of his own pleasure are embodied. The dull and cloudy water where he washes his feet is a reminder that the beautiful, clean world he used to know is being washed away. He arrives here after crossing the divider, which is perhaps a place that marks that there is no turning back because he is soon destined to reach the Underworld. His hesitant behavior foreshadows his increasing denial as he ventures toward his final

destination.
Mythological references that Cervo picks are Hades, Pluto, Persephone, Helen, and the River Styx.

The Westerhazy’s pool has a high iron content, which indicates that it is near the Halloran’s home because their house is thought to be Pluto’s home. Hade’s is extremely wealthy in minerals and metal, such as gold. “The Hallorans are Pluto and Persephone figures.” (Cervo). Their pool is “opaque gold” (Cheever), which respresents Pluto’s wealth.

There are three additional Greek figures Cervo does not reference: Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Cepheus. Neddy gazes upon these constellations before his realization. “He had swum too long, he had been immersed too long, and his nose and his throat were sore from the water.” (Cheever 2370). Cassiopeia unintentionally inflicts a sea monster on her homeland, and can only save it by sacrificing her daughter to the monster. This Greek family myth may very well imply that Neddy had sacrificed his own family’s happiness and safety for the affair with Shirley, a monster who had returned to devastate

him.
Bullet Park a location that Cheever uses quite frequently in his works. It may be a place where Neddy committed suicide with a gun. Neddy’s home is located 8 miles south in Bullet Park. “The lower o suggests two zeros reflecting each other, one of them “subterranean” or “to the south” (Cervo). It represents the fact that Neddy is less than nothing because he is a financial failure. On the contrary, the fact that his home is 8 miles south could indicate that his home is located in the Underworld, rather than in Heaven which could be 8 miles north.
Cervo’s evidence can be reaching at times, and may appear to be questionable. He fails to address the change in Neddy’s social class, certain Greek mythological figures, and why Neddy is portrayed as a vibrant man who is young at heart. Cervo’s plausibility can be attributed to his references to mythology, as well as other literary works. The Halloran’s pool and daughter, the Lucinda River, golden and metallic pools of water, and changing seasons are associated with mythological references to Hades, Helen, and the Styx River.