Contrast of Neddy Merrill and the Typical Grail Hero
             In John Cheever's story "The Swimmer", Neddy Merrill is in many ways compared to the traditional grail hero. Like the grail here, Neddy Merrill is portrayed in many ways as a "legendary figure" (Cheever 393). Neddy was also planning to take a "long swim" (Cheever 393), or in comparison to the grail hero, "a perilous quest" (Blythe and Sweet 2). Finally, Neddy Merrill reaches the end of his quest, as does the typical grail hero, where they both find a dark and empty place. Neddy Merrill and the typical grail hero have these common events occur in their lives, but in contrast to the grail hero's "selfless, community-serving quest" (7), Neddy's trip is a "selfish search for his own youth as well as materialism" (7). Therefore, Neddy's selfish ways have paved an easy road for one to not compare, but contrast Neddy to the typical grail hero.
             In "The Swimmer", Neddy Merrill "had a vague and modest idea of himself as a legendary figure" (393). The story does portray Neddy as legendary hero, but not legendary in the ways of a grail hero. Neddy is a hero at a social level. Neddy lives in a suburban area where he knows and mingles only with people who share his same social status. His lifestyle has permitted him to look down at others. He has on many occasions "rebuffed" an invitation to dinner because the invitee "did not belong to Neddy's set-they were not even on Lucinda's Christmas card list" (399).
             Like the typical grail hero, Neddy Merrill is "a man with a destiny" (393). He decides to take a trip by using "an uncommon route" (393) home. Neddy's trip, being one that "the only maps and charts he had to go by were remembered or imaginary" (393), is similar to the unknown that the typical ...