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The Swimmer: Themes Of Loss And Social Status - Online Term Paper

The Swimmer: Themes Of Loss And Social Status

In John Cheever’s short story, “The Swimmer”, themes of loss and social status are developed throughout the story. The main character, Neddy Merrill, portrays the idea of a journey. Cheever compares and contrasts Merrill’s beliefs about his own life in both the realms of reality and fantasy throughout his physical, as well as mental, journey. Cheever clearly illustrates how effected Merrill is socially and psychologically by the societal pressures of the idea of attaining the American dream.
Cheever begins his short story with a picturesque summer day. The main character, Neddy Merrill, uses the private pools of all his friends in his path eventually reaching his destination of his ...

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and offer him a drink. Merrill did not want to seem rude but he did not have the time to stay. He swam across the pool, spoke with them for a few moments and then moved on to the next pool.
Men and women were gathered together drinking at the Bunker’s house for a small poolside party at Merrill’s next stop. Once again, the hostess Enid Bunker, is happy to see Merrill drop by unexpectedly and leads him straight to the bar for a drink where “a smiling bartender he had seen at a hundred parties gave him a gin and tonic.” (Cheever 285). Anxious not to get stuck in any conversation that would delay his voyage, Merrill heads for the pool, dives in, and swims to the end. Merrill believes that his social status is still intact with the Bunkers, as well as everyone else. Neddy’s social prestige still exists in his fantasy. Merrill now had several drinks at this point and begins to wonder what time it had gotten to be.
At Merrill’s next stop, the Levy’s house, there seems to be a ...

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The Swimmer: Themes Of Loss And Social Status. (2007, June 26). Retrieved January 14, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Swimmer-Themes-Loss-Social-Status/67068

"The Swimmer: Themes Of Loss And Social Status." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 26 Jun. 2007. Web. 14 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Swimmer-Themes-Loss-Social-Status/67068>

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 6/26/2007 05:48:27 PM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Free Paper
Words: 1076
Pages: 4

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