The Swimmer Essay Example for Free

The Swimmer Essay Within John Cheerver’s, The Swimmer we can learn a lot about life choices and priorities. Cheerver demonstrates the effect of social standing in the novel through the eyes of the main character Needy. Needy has let his social standing overpower him, which eventually leads him to a life without social activity. Cheerver effectively communicates his message to the reader by combining a wide variety of symbolism and excitement. Throughout the novel the author uses a plethora of examples to display his message and even incorporates his views within the theme of the novel. A respectable theme in The Swimmer is the inevitable passage of time. This theme is clearly established through the protagonist of the novel, Needy. In the beginning of the story the author provides the reader with a clear background of Needy’s life. The information about Needy’s life is crucial to the story because it helps the reader understand and connect with the character. Needy believes that he does not have to keep in touch with his friends because the life he leads. With his high social standing, Needy believes that he is inferior to others. Life continues to pass by as Needy lives his life on the outskirts. It isn’t until it’s too late that Needy becomes aware of his surroundings and realizes he has wasted much of his life. The damage he has caused in life cannot be undone due to his lack of care and concern for others. Not only is Needy’s social life irreplaceable at the end of the novel, but he has become dependent on alcohol. It appears that Needy has grown to become his own worst enemy in life. On the contrary, Cheerver helps develop his theme of the novel through the use of symbolism. Within, The Swimmer, symbolism is frequently used as a technique to tie together the story. For example, the author portrays symbolism within the text through the multiple swimming pools Needy encounters. Each swimming pool Needy comes across represents a different time period in his life and a different group of friends Needy has known. As Needy swims from pool to pool he comes across his haunting past. Not aware of his surroundings, he continues on from pool to pool. Swimming pools arent the only symbolic object within the text. Empty houses are also part of the symbolism that is used within the novel. Needy reaches his own backyard to find an empty house with locked doors. This abandoned house becomes a symbol for Needy’s lonely and unsociable life. When Needy is at the house he finally comes to reality with his life. He finally comes to the realization that he has pushed away everyone close in his life . He has no one to talk to and feels as though he is lonely in the world. Not only does Cheerver use symbolism in his story but he also incorporates imagery. The author uses seasons as a way to help readers understand the different stages in Needy’s life. The author uses the warmer months to represent happier moments in Needys life while the colder months portray the weary and unsettling moments in his life. Seasons come and go, and so do people in our life. Needy thought that his life was untouchable, but soon came down from his cloud and realized what he had done. The theme of the inevitable passage of time truly represents the novel. People can take this story and easily connect it to their own lives. Coming from Cheerver’s past, this novel appears to be a mockery of his life. By mocking his own life, the author wants his readers to open their eyes and realize that the only thing that constantly changes is time itself. With that being said, Cheerver wanted to be a mediator for those who have started to jump into pools, and to those who have yet to jump. He warns those who have not â€Å"stepped† into the pool to step back from the edge and take a good look at what’s around them. He hopes to inform readers to never take anything for granted because nothings lasts forever.