The Swimmer

The story’s protagonist, Neddy Merrill, embodies The Alienation of Postwar American Suburbia. John Cheever presents a character who is alienated from others, partly due to the artificiality of his suburban environment and partly due to his narcissistic character. Although Neddy and his wife, Lucinda, know and even socialize with their neighbors (as illustrated by their presence at the Westerhazys’ pool), Cheever implies their interactions are superficial. The lack of dialogue in the opening paragraphs, other than repeated assertions from the characters that they “drank too much” (Paragraph 1), highlights the lack of meaningful communication. As Neddy visits the pools of the neighborhood, his acquaintances declare they must see one another again soon, but without conviction. Cheever highlights how often Neddy and Lucinda “regret” invitations, implying that their “regret” is insincere. He also conveys the snobbery and unspoken status competition inherent in the affluent suburb. This is illustrated in the Merrills’ friendship with the extremely wealthy Hallorans and their snubbing of invitations from the Biswangers, who do “not belong to Neddy’s set” (23). The fragility of relationships built on social status is emphasized as Neddy’s precarious financial situation emerges, receiving an increasingly hostile reception from his neighbors, including the Biswangers.