Introduction
Reaction to the Story
In this story Cheever is concerned to bring out the world where some individuals have privilege and wealth which they think can protect can shield them from life challenges like, heartbreak, despair, and disaster. Many of his work is set in a Northern part of the USA, mainly at the wealthy outskirts of major cities like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Most of his characters are rich, white and a little short on elitism. This story highlights unsocial behaviors like adultery relationships. Due to this, family quarrels are part and parcel in the lives of the characters. Clearly, their wealthy and classy in society does not spare them from facing sadness just as other ordinary citizens. In every gathering, the characters must drink alcohol as they regard it as a uniting factor (Cheever and Bailey 55). Clearly, the story reveals the challenges that the rich and prominent people face. They are not optional from sadness just like the poor and those perceived to be of a low social class. Cheever created his stories to make man understand that a given point in life, the rich will need the poor and vice versa. Thus, no need to discriminate people on the grounds of their social class.
Evidently, the characters in the story “The Swimmer” waste a lot of time relaxing at the swimming pools as they drink alcohol. This is an indication of a society that is completely lost. There are many other important things that they can engage other than boasting while despising the less fortunate. Though they think they are enjoying their lives to the fullest, they forget to keep friendship with other members of the society. When they fall from their ranks, they get frustrated as others treat them the same. And among themselves, they are always affected by individual conflict which results in their relationship breaking. Their friendship is just meant to last for a short while, if you do not have money, you are left alone (Cheever and Bailey 53). For, instance, Neddy got the influence and made him unfaithful to his wife which led to their divorce. On the other hand, he was rejected by the bartenders.
This story helps us to learn many lessons which are applicable in the real live situation. Many people tend to change their lifestyles once they become wealthy and gain higher social classes in the community. As in “The Swimmer”, Neddy finds himself engaged in a luxurious lifestyle where he would attend pool parties often. He spends wastes a lot of time drinking and relaxing with wealthy friends by their home swimming pools. This highly influences his character and even starts to ignore his long-term wife (Rubenstein and Larson 213). Evidently, much of thing that the characters involve in is extramarital relationships, which breaks many families. In many cases, the adulterous behavior led to family feuds and dramas. This could have been avoided if at all the characters maintained a good life that depicts respect for their loved once. As a result, there are many relationship breakups which leave the affected parties in despair (Cheever and Bailey 63).
Evidently, this tells us that wealthy cannot afford us happiness at all times as many people may think. Richness at times leads to the much social evil which denies people happiness. Usually, it is thought that being help rich people solve many challenges that deny them happiness. Contrary, to this common, believe, many of those who were living a lavish life, spend most of time drinking alcohol. Excessive drinking further made relationships very fragile as friendship ended at any time (Cheever and Bailey 64). This was evident when distanced by people whom he never thought they will ignore him at one point in life. Thus, it is clear in the story that people lived a life which they never minded what will happen tomorrow. This made their characters intolerable in the society where they were previously accorded a lot of respect.
Relation to Real Life
When I read this story over and over again, it reminds me about one of my old friend Ben. He comes from a wealthy family and him being the only son; he gets all favors from his parents who want to see their son live a comfortable life. It happened that during a math class in high school, our teacher organized groups which we were to use for discussions. Ben was among those whom we were in the same group. As we had time to interact with the group, we started developing a bond which later made us strong friends. As we did everything together, I came to realize that Ben was financially well off as he was always willing to pay for my lunch and any other shopping that we did together. I was so happy that I at least found a friend who can support me financially whenever I had a problem, and indeed he was always there for me.
One day during the interschool sports, Ben requested me to go with him to his home. Being a friend, I did not hesitate as I longed to know real how they lived. Truly, on arriving at his home, I knew that they were living a better and happy life much better than my family. He took me to his room and went back to the sitting room only to come with some three bottles of beer. He then gave one to me and welcomed me for a drink. At first, I was so hesitant to sip, but since I did not want to disappoint him, I took the drink. I developed unfamiliar feelings which gave me a lot of false courage as we went back to cheer our teams play. Here, he introduced me to some of his friends from other schools as he organized to throw a party at his home. For me, I saw this was the best opportunity that would guarantee me a girlfriend since I was his closest friend at the moment.
Days passed as we were preparing for the great party. When the day came, I was there on time as we arranged everything that everything runs smooth. Already Ben had organized for enough drinks and even hired a professional deejay for the event. In my mind, this was the happiest moments of my life and ever wished my life to be the same always. The party started when many people had arrived. When I drunk, I became wild and started approaching every girl at the party. The trend went on every time as we organized parties where alcohol and other drugs were the uniting factors. Unfortunately, I started realizing, that we were losing a lot of time for unnecessary things rather than concentrate on our studies. I drastically dropped in my studies and my parents had to come to my teacher to inquire what was going on.
It was during this time that my teacher narrated everything that he heard many stories about my indulgence in alcohol and drugs with one of my friend Ben. At this time, my friend swore to disown me if I did not explain all that was happening behind his back. Because I did not intend to hurt my friend, I just kept it to myself. This real frustrated my parent who later disowned me. I did not worry since I knew I had a friend who can help accommodate me. Unfortunately, it was a rude shock when I tried explaining to Ben about my story, and he was not willing to help me anymore. He even stopped associating with me as he found new friends. Not even one of his friends wanted me again. Thus, when I read the story “The Swimmer” I relate Neddy’s life to what I experienced after all my social friends left me after realizing my proble
Work Cited
Bloom, Harold. John Cheever. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004. Print.
Butler, S J, Steffi Pusch, and Nicolas McDowall. The Swimmer. , 2012. Print.
Beuka, Robert, and Robert A. Beuka. SuburbiaNation: Reading suburban landscape in twentieth-century American fiction and film. Macmillan, 2004.
Rubenstein, Roberta, and Charles R. Larson, eds. Worlds of Fiction. Pearson College Division, 2002.
Cheever, John, and Blake Bailey. John Cheever: Collected Stories and Other Writings. Vol. 188. Library of America, 2009.
