The Swimmer
In John Cheever's short story "The Swimmer", the main character Ned Merrill, does exactly as the story's title implies. The story is being told in the third person. It begins with a small group of people sitting around one of Ned Merrill's neighbor's pool one midsummer Sunday. All of the guests are talking of how they had drank too much the night before and are suffering from terrible hangovers. The story's main character, Ned, begins to feel as if he is a great swimmer who could swim a huge river. In order to prove this to himself he embarks on a journey to swim to his house. To do this he must swim in all of the pools possible between his neighbors, where he is now, and his own house. This would be no easy task by any means, considering his house is eight miles away. As the story goes on Ned begins to actually believe he is on some great journey. He refers to himself as a cartographer and pilgrim and goes on to name his path after his wife Lucinda. He also thought eventually people would line
He then comes to the point in his journey where he has to cross a highway. While there he noticed another oak tree except this one is completely bald. By this time Ned has lost all track of time and is still in disbelief at what he saw at the Welchers. Finally looking in the window he sees the place is empty. This was odd to Ned because it seemed to him only a week ago that the Welchers had asked Ned and his wife to dine with them but could not. Halloran then remarks about his house, that he had just recently sold, and his poor children. Ned's next stop takes him to the Halloran's where they remark that they are sorry to here about his misfortunes but Ned replies that he doesn't understand. He thinks to himself he could turn back but like a man on a mission he presses on despite the odd looks and ridicule he recieves from people who pass by. He is very tired, so tired in fact that he barely made it through the last pool. While sitting there notices that an oak tree has brown leaves and some have fallen off even though it is midsummer. Although he presses on like the explorer he thinks he is. Everyone at her house treats home rudely. Ned tells them they must be wrong, which causes the Halloran's to believe he is denial. He swam the length of their pool, and had a rest with his neighbors and then moved on. He then all of a sudden feels cold and uncomfortable.
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Acceptance Essays
