Comparing John Cheever’s The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight Essay

Comparing John Cheevers The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight Two stories by John Cheever, The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight (5-48), will be explored in terms of how the characters, genre and point of view in these stories give rise to classic fiction. The Swimmer is of a suburban man, Neddy Merrill, who decides to return home from die by swimming eight miles through all of his neighbors pools along the way. At each pool he encounters a haomaer mistress, distant and unfriendly neighbours and early(a) symbols of a bitter, frustrated life. To Neddy, this is his epic days journey. However, when he arrives home, his family has left him. The swimmer has made it home but too much has changed. While 5-48 is about the protagonist, Blake, having an affair with the emotionally weak Dent. The story begins with Blake firing Dent and she in turn stalks him to the 5-48 with a gun. She gains her retaliate by making him kneel before her. Blakes humiliation is eff when she forces him to rub hi s face in the dirt. 5-48 is developed as a typical story with the two principal characters, Blake and Dent, very well developed. There is constant tautness from the point where Blake (depicted as egotistical, insensitive and in control) leaves the office to the train 5-48, all the while being pursued by Dent (the victim, who is emotionally weak, manipulated and cheated). Its chronological form simplifies the story and makes it a fast paced and delightful read. In addition, there is realism injected by actual places like the 5-48 train and Shady Hill, tired and cold relationships, betrayal, revenge and affairs that are so commonplace in society. Swimmer seems to be a painful reflection of his own life that was blighted by thoughtful al... ...s request for a drink or the idea of entertaining him or give him money. In retrospect after analyzing Cheevers The Swimmer and The Five-Forty-Eight, I intend that isolation stands out as the underlying theme for both stories although they ar e markedly different in plot and genre. Also these stories seem to be a poignant reminder of Cheevers personal life and to an extent a chapter of life in that period, although poverty, discrimination and adultery are still present directly and affect both you and me. Works CitedCheever, John. The Five-Forty-Eight. The Stories of John Cheever. New York Knopf, 1978.---------------. The Swimmer. The Stories of John Cheever. New York Knopf, 1978.Works ConsultedSlabey, Robert M. John Cheever The Swimming of America. Critical Essays on John Cheever. Ed. Robert G. Coolins. Boston Hall, 1982. 180-90.