Commentary on The Swimmer Essay

The Swimmer

The short story The Swimmer by John Cheever is a story that takes place in the 1950s in a classic suburban town situated in New York. The story allows a glimpse into a time period that was very surreal, filled with cocktail parties, sex and the attempt to achieve the American dream.

Throughout the story the reader witnesses the emotional downfall of the main character Neddy Merrill, who at the beginning appears to be an affluent, in shape man who has a family and many friends to match. As the story progresses Neddy travels around his town abruptly showing up at neighbors houses asking for drinks and swimming the lengths of their pools in an effort to swim across the county. At first the reader is confused as to why this man, Neddy seems to be randomly swimming through other peoples pools. But soon comes to the conclusion that Neddy is an alcoholic who has lost touch with reality and is in denial about the fact that his wife and children have left him, in order battle his inner demons he has blocked any recollection of such happenings from his mind.

The title of this story is extremely appropriate in a couple of different senses. The first being the literal use in which because Neddy does like to swim, and swims throughout the entire story in his neighbors pools. Another reason why the title is so appropriate is because it has a lot of symbolic meaning. Such as how in the beginning he starts out young and fit ready to do anything especially swim, and as the story goes on he grows more and more tires and weary as to symbolize the familiarity of the pool and the people he sees are draining him as he comes closer to home and to reality.

The title helps give focus because the name right away lets the reader know that it is about a swimmer. If I were given the choice to change the title I would not change it to anything. I think the title The Swimmer is a perfect title for this story. However, the story doesnt convey any messages other then the fact that it may be about a swimmer, it has a purely simple title that gets its point across cleanly.

The Swimmer is a short story which really demonstrates a good rendition of the classic 1950s lifestyle along with the mishaps that can happen in everyday life. Although I had to read it a few times to really grasp and understand the concept of the story I think that it was well worth my time.