Hidden Truths in The Enormous Radio

860 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Describe how technology affects relationships

Hidden Truths in The Enormous Radio

John Cheever’s "The Enormous Radio" represents the enormous amount of hidden truths in American society of the 1940s. The problems with society during this time were hidden behind a facade of goodness; however, this false innocence becomes visible through the radio owned by the Westcotts. The radio causes the Westcotts to evolve from an innocent, naive pair who believe that everything they see is real, into individuals who realize that appearances are deceiving.

Cheever develops the motif of innocence by details like Irene’s "wide, fine forehead upon which nothing at all had been written" (817). Cheever also includes the fact that Irene "wore a coat of fitch skins dyed to resemble mink" (817). This is a very dishonest, not innocent, clue about the Westcott’s status. Jim’s youthfulness also represents innocence: Cheever states that "he dressed in the clothes his class had worn at Andover, and his manner was earnest, vehement and intentionally naive" (817). These innocent appearances will be recognized and reflected upon once the radio is delivered to the house.

The radio, an appropriately ugly instrument, looks "like an aggressive intruder" (817). Kendle Burton concludes from this statement that "To Irene, it is a Satanic invader of the Westcott’s world of apparent innocence" (128). Cheever writes, "The powerful and ugly instrument, with its mistaken sensitivity to discord, was more than she could hope to master" (818). This refers to the way that Irene tunes out the ugliness in her own life. Jim also tries to ignore these appearances by simply tuning them out. He explains to Irene that she does not have to listen to the radio. She can turn it off. Jim is explaining that they ...

... middle of paper ...

...tting on a mask of innocence as well.

The Westcotts have lost an illusory faith in themselves and their society. Now they must begin to find a real one with each other. Nowadays this recognition of society’s horrible secrets such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, racial discrimination, domestic violence, sexism, and many more are all too vivid. The only question that remains is whether it is better to acknowledge these hidden secrets like today, or to ignore them like yesterday?

Works Cited

Burton, Kendle. "Cheever’s use of Mythology in ‘The Enormous Radio.’" Contemporary Literary Criticism. Detroit: Gale , 1980.

Cheever, John. "The Enormous Radio." Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. NY: HarperCollins, 1991.

Rupp, Richard. "Of That Time, of Those Places: The Short Stories of John Cheaper." Short Story Criticism. Detroit: Gale, 1988.

Show More
Related

  • Sacrifices in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    1770 Words  | 4 Pages

    we all a little like Daisy--foolish sinners who wander around avoiding reality, hurting and being hurt by those around us, letting others take the punishment for our transgressions?" (Clark, 3/10). Works Cited Allen, Joan M. Candles and Carnival Lights: The Catholic Sensibility of F. Scott Fitzgerald. New York University Press: New York, 1978. Christensen, Bryce J. & Co. "The Mystery of Godliness." Major Literary Characters: Gatsby. Ed.

    Read More

  • Dorothy Allison's This is Our World

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    In her work, “This is Our World,” Dorothy Allison shares her perspective of how she views the world as we know it. She has a very vivid past with searing memories of her childhood. She lives her life – her reality – because of the past, despite how much she wishes it never happened. She finds little restitution in her writings, but she continues with them to “provoke more questions” (Allison 158) and makes the readers “think about what [they] rarely want to think about at all” (158).

    Read More

  • Case Study: What Should We Do With Jim?

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was implied that Ms. Frieda’s first interaction and time-out for Jim was so successful that it is no wonder the idea of placing Jim in Ms. Frieda’s class came to be. While he does not specifically fit the theme of her current classroom, it is assumed that she is so well versed that it would be no problem squeezing Jim in. That her structured, “well-oiled machine” of a class will do Jim some

    Read More

  • John Updike A & P Analysis

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    Updike, John. "A&P." The Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.1026-1030.

    Read More

  • Prejudice in "King of the Bingo Game"

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    (Sept. 1976): 35-39. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Carol T. Gaffke. Vol. 26. Detroit:

    Read More

  • Alcoholism in The Swimmer, by John Cheever

    1140 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cheever, John. "The Swimmer." The Northon Anthology American Literature. 8th ed. Vol. E. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.

    Read More

  • The Swimmer, by John Cheever: Time Waits For No Man

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cheever, John. "The Swimmer." The Northon Anthology American Literature. 8th ed. Vol. E. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.

    Read More

  • Special Bond In Willa Cather's My Antonia

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Jim attends school with other children of his social stature, Antonia is forced to manually work in the fields. A division between the two characters is immediately created. Antonia develops resentment towards Jim; "I ain't got time to learn. I can work like mans now. My mother can't say no more Ambrosch do all and nobody to help him.

    Read More

  • The Symbolic Meaning of the Radio in The Enormous Radio

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even though in the beginning of the story the Westcotts’ old radio is outdated and constantly malfunctioning, it has the same innocence and simplicity as the couple. The radio, being "an old instrument" (817), and the couple, resembling "statistical reports in college alumni bulletins" (817), are both average and uncomplicated. Neither Jim nor Irene "understood the mechanics of the radio" (817), just as the radio, a machine, did not understand the human music and language it transmitted. Eventually the couple’s life begins to fall apart. This happens as the old radio get worse and finally "the music [from the radio] faded away all together" (817).

    Read More

  • The Character of Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    Evans, Robert C., Anne C. Little, and Barbara Wiedemann. Short Fiction: A Critical Companion. West Cornwall, CT: Locust Hill, 1997. 265-270.

    Read More

  • Unwanted and Unplanned Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Illness

    1552 Words  | 4 Pages

    The birth rate among teens in the United States has declined 9% from 2009 to 2010, a historic low among all racial and ethnic groups, with the least being born in 2010; and in 2011 the number of babies born to adolescents aged 15-19 years of age was 329,797 (“Birth Rates for U.S.”, 2012). Although the decline in unwanted and unplanned teen births is on the rise the United States continues to be among the highest of industrialized countries facing this problem. This is a prevailing social concern because of the health risks to these young mothers as well as their babies. Teens at higher risk of becoming pregnant are raised at or below the poverty level by single parents; live in environments that cause high levels of stress (i.e., divorce, sexual psychological and physical abuse); are influenced by peers or family members that are sexually active; and lack parental guidance that would direct them to be responsible and self-controlled.

    Read More

  • racism and prejudice

    1511 Words  | 4 Pages

    Racism and prejudice has been present in almost every civilization and society throughout history. Even though the world has progressed greatly in the last couple of decades, both socially and technologically, racism, hatred and prejudice still exists today, deeply embedded in old-fashioned, narrow-minded traditions and values.

    Read More

  • Teen Pregnancy in America

    2470 Words  | 5 Pages

    Adolescent childbearing has become a prominent social issue because of the broad social and personal consequences. Babies born to teen mothers are at increased risk of developing physical, social, and cognitive problems and deficiencies. Teenage mothers are at increased risk for pre-term labor and premature childbirth. They are also at increased risk of pregnancy complications, infant physical disability, and low birth weight. In many cases prenatal medical care is frequently delayed or inadequately delivered.

    Read More

  • Prejudice

    1799 Words  | 4 Pages

    Last quarter, we had many robbers around campus. So during the night, there were many cops walking along High street to try their best to protect students. However, most cops tended to stop blacks and ask them where they were going and why they hung out so late at night. Why do people suspect blacks? There must be a reason. Some people may say that most students reported that blacks attacked them. But there were several cases showed that the robbers were whites. In my opinion, prejudice might be the reason why the police suspect blacks around school. “Prejudice is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority.” (Schaefer, 2008, p. 248) Even though the emancipation of slaves happened hundred years ago, prejudice and bias still remain in this society. We might dislike our roommate because he or she talks really loud and does not shower. And it is considered prejudice. However, if we stereotype him or she based on race or religions, it is a form of prejudice. It is true that we tend to define other people from our own perspectives. If prejudice forms, it may affect people’s behaviors. But what can prejudice lead to? How prejudice forms? And are there any methods that we can use to reduce prejudices? When it comes to prejudice, we may first think about discrimination and ethnocentrism, which are the negative effects of prejudice. Prejudices can result in discrimination and it may result from ethnocentrism. Besides, prejudice and bias result from subjects we do not know. And we can reduce prejudices.

    Read More

  • Essay On Impact Of Radio

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    Impact of the Radio The invention of the radio had an immense impact, revolutionizing the unity of society. “I live in a strictly rural community, and people here speak of ‘The Radio’ in the large sense, with an over-meaning,” said E.B. White in 1933. “When they say ‘The Radio’ they don’t mean a cabinet, an electrical phenomenon, or a man in a studio, they refer to a pervading and somewhat godlike presence which has come into their lives and homes” (Lewis). The radio became a mighty weapon whose power involved spreading ideas to millions of listeners, who may otherwise never have heard those inspirational messages. Religious fanatics used to stand at the back of churches shouting radical nonsense, while others would ignore it.

    Read More

More about Hidden Truths in The Enormous Radio

Open Document