The Cycle Of Life In The Swimmer, By John Cheever

The Cycle of life

One of John Cheever’s most critical short fiction of the 20th century, “The Swimmer,” details the adventurous journey of Neddy Merrill as he swims his way across multiple pools in the county where he lives in order to back get home. The pools that make up what Neddy has named "the river Lucinda" create a very strict order for Neddy as he progresses in his journey home, this symbolizes a crucial point in time of Neddy's life. He appears to have a perfect life on the surface with a content family, a high social status and many friends, which suddenly disintegrates through the story. Therefore, this story can stand as a metaphor for life, delivering this message: Your time on earth is short; use this time in worthy productive actions.
At the beginning of “The Swimmer,” Cheever describes Neddy Merrill with his perfect family, high social standing, and pricey suburban home.
He has few problems in his life and he seems to see himself and all his friends as blessed. He accepts and rejects invitations according to a rigid social status and engages in all activities: tennis and drinking. He has many friends, and his position in this privileged world allows him to hop from pool to pool uninvited, assured that he will be welcomed wherever he goes. Although he is no longer young, he prides himself on his youthful strength and vigor and seems to see himself as a hero, as Cheever describes “he was not a practical joker nor was he a fool but he was determinedly original and had a vague and modest idea of himself as a legendary figure”(727). This quote, represents the self-satisfied view that Neddy has of himself and his world to consider himself as better as
anyone.

As the story progresses this world of leisure, ease, and tranquility becomes less of a joy. Neddy uses alcohol to mask reality. He created hallucinations, he had blurred memories to the point that he got to forget his owns friends. He seems to guard himself from every painful memory of his past through alcohol which leaves him weak and broken at the end of the story. As Cheever says “Why, believing as he did, that all human obduracy was susceptible to common sense, was he unable to turn back? Why was he determined to complete his journey even if it meant putting his life in danger? At what point had this prank, this joke, this piece of horseplay become serious?” Neddy does not seem to realize that this life is all he has and his actions have consequences. All his rejected invitations have gained him enemies and friends kept at distance. He has also ruined his marriage and apparently lost his fortune. His life, is indeed serious, not a prank or joke. Just as he feels unable to stop his strange journey home, he is unable to turn back the clock and make up for past mistakes. There is nowhere to go but forward, across the highway and on into the future. At the end of the story, the changes in weather and season that occur throughout “The Swimmer” mirror Neddy’s changing life circumstances, particularly the deterioration of his comfort and security. From summer to fall, from a fall to a cold winter and from winter to a colored spring.