"The Swimmer" is a short story by John Cheever that was first published in 1964. The story tells the tale of Neddy Merrill, a middle-aged man who decides to swim home through a series of backyard pools in his affluent suburban neighborhood. As Neddy makes his way through the neighborhood, he encounters a series of obstacles and setbacks that ultimately lead to his downfall.
One of the most striking elements of "The Swimmer" is the way in which it uses the metaphor of swimming to explore the theme of decay and decline. Throughout the story, Neddy's journey is characterized by a sense of loss and degeneration. He begins the story in a state of physical and mental health, but as he progresses through the neighborhood, he becomes increasingly exhausted and disoriented. This decline is mirrored in the pools he swims through, which go from being clean and inviting at the start of his journey to being dirty and uninviting by the end.
This metaphor of swimming is also used to explore the theme of illusion and deception. As Neddy makes his way through the neighborhood, he encounters a series of people who present a facade of happiness and success, but who are ultimately revealed to be deeply unhappy and unfulfilled. This is especially true of the Lemays, who seem to have the perfect life on the surface, but are revealed to be in the midst of a bitter divorce.
Another important theme in "The Swimmer" is the way in which the story portrays the shallow nature of upper-class suburban life. Throughout the story, Neddy encounters a series of people who are more interested in maintaining their social status and appearance than in genuine connection and relationships. This is exemplified by the fact that many of the people Neddy encounters are unwilling to help him or even acknowledge his existence, despite the fact that he is clearly in need of assistance.
One of the most notable aspects of "The Swimmer" is the way in which it uses the first-person perspective to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy. By using Neddy's thoughts and experiences as the narrative focus, the story creates a sense of intimacy and connection with the reader. This is especially true in the final scenes of the story, where Neddy's thoughts become increasingly disjointed and fragmented, mirroring his deteriorating mental state.
In conclusion, "The Swimmer" is a powerful and thought-provoking story that uses the metaphor of swimming to explore themes of decay, illusion, and the shallow nature of upper-class suburban life. Through its use of first-person narration, the story creates a sense of intimacy and connection with the reader, making it a timeless and enduring classic of literature.
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Rhetorical Analysis Of The Damnation Of Canyon, By Edward Abbey 906 Words 4 Pages As Abby tells of his many endeavors down the canyon stream, he personifies the canyon and describes it as if it were a person. However, despite the overwhelming challenges, he did not allow them to hold him back but instead continued to pursue his goal of catching a fish with determination. As he was described in "The Odyssey," the Greek traveler and war hero Odysseus encounters countless challenges on his long, arduous journey home, and he must confront them with bravery in order to return to his home. Their Cuban roots had just been disturbed by their own leader and they were uncertain about their position in the U. They are a bit loose; he wonders if it is possible that he has lost weight in the span of one afternoon. In low spirits after the strange encounter with the Hallorans, Neddy is now tired and cold.
Literary Analysis of The childhealthpolicy.vumc.org
Even he has judged people based on wealth, and the very same people now look down upon him. Already, Neddy is coming to see his neighbors as a burden or impediment, as Mrs. The woman's observations made from a distance indicate that the swan is dead, but also alive. This short story was written by John Cheever after alcohol took a toll on his life, in the succeeding years after publishing this book, the author personal and professional relationships were destroyed Cheever, 727. Similarly, his entire social circle has totally changed.
The Swimmer Critical Analysis
Because this chapter had an abundant amount of detail, it really stood out from other chapters as being the Secret Lost In The Water Symbolism 106 Words 1 Pages These three stories all use symbolism to aid the reader in understanding each narrative. The water stinks of chlorine. The image of the storm is thus a system of checks and balances to avoid human beings from exhaustion or excessive fatigue. Be that as it may, in the event that we analyze and look at the sonnet painstakingly, we see that the Arnold stresses over life and its significance. Neddy enjoyed drinking in the initial stage of his journey, which seems to have influenced his thoughts greatly. In Cuba, hope, at that time, was long gone. He is aware that the Hallorans enjoyed naked swims, and to conform with that he follows suit and takes his routine swim.
The Swimmer Analysis
The major motivators and driving factors evident from Neddy's social standing are drinking, serving and desire for alcohol. This quotation, which appears in the third paragraph of the story, reveals the rosy, self-satisfied view Neddy has of himself and his world. This embodies the hope that keeps Cuban Americans focused despite the political challenges at home. The society is drowned in a pool of drunkenness, all of the characters presented in this context are on a regular drinking spree. Eventually, the facts catch up with us and we are thrown into a world of chaos. Symbolisms The Pool The central symbolism in the short story is the water and the pools themselves.
