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

Comparing backside 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, music 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 kin from work by limpid eight miles through all of his neighbors pussys along the way. At each pool he encounters a former mistress, distant and unfriendly neighbours and other 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 whoreson. The story begins with Blake firing Dent and she in turn stalks him to the 5-48 with a gun. She gains her revenge by making him kneel before her. Blakes confusion is complete when she forces h im to rub his face in the dirt. 5-48 is developed as a typical story with the two principal characters, Blake and Dent, very well developed. on that point is constant tension from the point where Blake (depicted as egotistical, insensitive and in control) leaves the slip to the shoot for 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 lovely 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 reproach of his own life that was blighted by serious 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 think that isolation stands out as the underlying theme for both stories al though they are 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 interpret today 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. capital of Massachusetts Hall, 1982. 180-90.