John Cheever's, "The Swimmer," is a short story that is highly praised for its blend of realism and surrealism. Cheever conducts a thematic exploration of suburban America and focuses on the relationship between wealth and happiness. The central theme of the story is a life that focuses on material successes and social standing results in temporary happiness. Cheever presents the story in a third-person point of view with a narrator who reveals the thoughts of the main character, Neddy Merrill, during his journey home through his neighbour's swimming pools. The reader observes the lack of genuine relationships formed by Neddy, his changing life circumstances over time, and the repetitive use of alcohol throughout his journey which shows that once the sunny facade of wealth is stripped away, Neddy is left an empty man.
Neddy acts as though he lives a happy and full life, but the reader begins to realize as his journey progresses that he is empty and isolated due to the lack of genuine relationships he has in his life. He is living a life that is preoccupied with material successes and social standing. Neddy and his wife only socialize with the people they consider to share the same social status. For example, the narrator states that the Biswangers', "[do] not belong to Neddy's set-[the Biswangers'] were not even on Lucinda's Christmas card list," (390). Neddy makes a habit of rejecting invitations from people such as the Biswangers. Due to this practice, it becomes evident that he is out of touch with many of the people he considers his friends-he cannot even remember personal details about many of them. This is evident when he stops in at the Sachses' pool and forgets that his friend Eric had been ill (389). The reader cuts Neddy off from his relationship with his wife, Lucinda, by virtue of his past, "lighthearted affair," (384) with Shirley Adams. Neddy assumes that Shirley would welcome him openly which is evident when he wonders if she will "weep again" when he sees her.
Setting- The book Pop Goes The Weasel by James Patterson is set in Washington, D.C. during the late twentieth century, in both the suburbs and downtown Washington. ... Alex is an African-American detective with two beautiful children, a pretty fiancée, and an all-around nice life. ... Trying to escape Alex, Shafer dove into the sea and tried to swim away. ...
What animal is known to be a trickster and the Native Americans had great respect for? ... They are strong swimmers, and will not hesitate to enter the water to chase their prey. ... Their habitat outlook is basically anywhere, most Coyotes prefer to hide away from people, but they can live close to Suburbs or near housing. ... The Coyote isn't a big cultural or political importance really to most people, but the Native Americans have great respect for the Coyote and believe it is one of the smarter animals out in the wild. ...
Chapter 25: Transition to Modern America (the 1920s) Introduction Mass Production: the result was the creation of a New America, on e in which individualism was sacrificed to conformity as a part of the price to be paid for a new era of abundance. ... It is in the 1920s that we can find the roots of modern America as we know today. ... Middle- and upper-class Americans were the groups who thrived during the 1920s. ... The future pattern of American culture -cars and suburbs, shopping centers, and skyscrapers-was determined by the end of the 1920s. ... On college campuses, football...
With the exception of Kevin Stillman, one of the divers on the swim team, who spends most of his time making Conrad feel uncomfortable by taunting him. ... Conrad was an average teenager living with his perfect family in the suburbs before Jordan's death. ... He hesitates to tell his parents that he has quit the swim team because he is afraid they will coddle him. ...
When the narrator suggests the execution of Edgar Derby, an American who stole a teapot from the ruins, as the climax of the novel, Bernard still seems unenthusiastic. ... The outline ended with the exchange of prisoners who had been liberated by Americans and Russians. ... His father tries to teach him how to swim by the sink-or-swim method. ...
The American gunboat USS Panay bombed and sunk near Nanking. 1938 Dec. - Japan proclaims a "New Order in East Asia". 1940 May - Chungking - war capital of China - bombed day and night by Japanese. ... They were trapped on the east bank because no transportation was available; many of them tried to swim across the river. ...
