John Cheever’s The Stories of John Cheever is a collection of short stories that explore the complexities of human relationships, societal norms, and the hidden struggles of ordinary people. Cheever masterfully portrays the lives of suburban families, individuals caught in personal dilemmas, and the fragile balance between appearances and reality.
The Suburban Experience
Cheever often writes about suburban life, capturing both its charm and its underlying discontent. His characters are frequently middle-class families living in neat, orderly neighborhoods. On the surface, their lives seem perfect—good jobs, happy families, and comfortable homes. But underneath, Cheever reveals their inner conflicts, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with their routines. These characters struggle to fit into society’s expectations while grappling with their desires and regrets. In stories like “The Swimmer,” Cheever tells the story of a man named Neddy Merrill, who embarks on a journey through his neighbors’ swimming pools, symbolizing a deeper emotional journey. What begins as a simple, whimsical adventure slowly turns into a dark and unsettling realization about his own life. Neddy’s journey reflects his gradual fall from prosperity, leading to the discovery of his personal failures.
The Theme of Disillusionment
A common theme throughout the collection is the disillusionment characters face as they confront the realities of their lives. The stories often depict people who appear successful but are deeply unhappy. In “The Country Husband,” Francis Weed survives a plane crash and returns home to his suburban life, where he feels invisible and unappreciated. His frustration with the banality of his existence leads him to contemplate an affair, but ultimately, he realizes that escape is impossible. This theme of disillusionment is central to many of Cheever’s stories, as characters yearn for meaning but find themselves trapped in their circumstances.
The Complexity of Human Relationships
Cheever delves into the complexities of human relationships, regularly highlighting the tension between love, infidelity, and loyalty. His characters frequently face moral dilemmas that force them to choose between passion and duty. In “The Five-Forty-Eight,” Cheever tells the story of Blake, a man who mistreats his secretary and then dismisses her from his life without a second thought. The story takes a dramatic turn when she confronts him with a gun, forcing Blake to face the consequences of his cruelty. This confrontation reveals the dark side of human relationships, where betrayal and manipulation typically overshadow genuine connection.
In “The Enormous Radio,” Cheever explores how secrets can erode trust in a marriage. Jim and Irene Westcott, a seemingly happy couple, discover that their new radio allows them to overhear their neighbors’ private conversations. As they listen in, Irene becomes obsessed with the problems of others, but this curiosity ultimately exposes the cracks in her own relationship.
The Fragility of Identity
Another recurring theme in Cheever’s stories is the fragility of identity. Characters often struggle with their sense of self, caught between who they are and who they want to be. In “The Sorrows of Gin” a young girl named Amy watches her parents’ marriage fall apart due to her father’s drinking issue. She feels helpless as she witnesses their lives unravel, which leads her to act out in ways that highlight her own confusion about family and identity.
Cheever shows how easily people’s lives can crumble when they lose sight of their values and aspirations. His characters frequently face moments of crisis where they must confront their own failings. In “Goodbye, My Brother” a family gathers at their summer home, but tensions rise between two brothers who have drastically different views on life. The conflict between them illustrates the fragility of family bonds and how unresolved resentment can fracture relationships.
The Role of Setting
Cheever’s stories are often set in suburban neighborhoods or small towns, which play a significant role in shaping the lives of the characters. The setting serves as both a backdrop and a reflection of the characters’ internal struggles. In many stories, the suburban landscape is depicted as a place of comfort but also of suffocation. It represents the societal expectations and the rigid conformity that the characters frequently try to escape.
In “The Housebreaker of Shady Hill,” Cheever tells the story of Johnny Hake, a man who lives in a wealthy suburb but feels financially strained. Desperate, he turns to burglary, stealing from his neighbors to maintain his lifestyle. The setting of Shady Hill, with its appearance of wealth and security, contrasts with Johnny’s growing sense of inadequacy and moral corruption.
The American Dream
At the heart of many of Cheever’s stories is a critique of the American Dream. His characters frequently strive for success, wealth, and happiness but find that these goals are elusive. Cheever shows how the pursuit of material wealth and social status can lead to emotional and spiritual emptiness. In “O Youth and Beauty!” Cash Bentley, a former track star, clings to his youthful glory by competing in races at neighborhood parties. However, as he ages, his attempts to relive his past glory become pathetic and dangerous, highlighting the emptiness of chasing after lost dreams.
Conclusion
The Stories of John Cheever offer a deep and often dark examination of human nature, particularly the struggles of individuals in suburban America. Cheever’s characters are flawed, complex, and relatable, facing the universal challenges of love, disillusionment, and identity. Through his sharp, insightful writing, Cheever reveals the tensions that lie beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives, making his stories both timeless and profoundly moving.
This collection invites readers to reflect on their own lives, the choices they make, and the consequences of those choices. Cheever’s stories remind us that beneath the surface of everyday life, there is frequently a world of hidden desires, disappointments, and complexities that shape our existence.