Marta Bobrowska

Realism and surrealism in Cheevers The swimmer

Realism and surrealism are opposite of each other. Reading a book, a reader, usually from the
very beginning, does the categorisation if the work is realistic one or not. Unfortunately, or
maybe fortunately, for artistic reasons, taking into consideration John Cheevers The
swimmer it is not a simple task. The reader can not be sure if she/he reads the real story or
the report of a dream.
First of all, the short story consists of a lot of realistic factors. The main protagonist Neddy
Merrill is a simple man with his weaknesses and weird ideas. He is the one of inhabitants of
the county, wealthy district where people from suburbia live their carefree lives. Secondly, the
motor of the plot is maybe a little bit eccentric an idea to swim through all the pools in
neighbourhood on the way home. It is also a great occasion to meet old friends and drink
alcohol. Additionally the time of action is suitable to the behaviour of people in midsummer
lazy Sunday. The way of living suburbians, their enormus estates, an easy-going lifestyle and
small talks are accomplishment of the realistic picture of rich Americans.
On the other hand, the reader is introduced in atmosphere of a dream. The narrator is
unreliable. There is no clear information about the age or family of Neddy the narrator only
plays with the reader even Neddy is not sure of himself. The ridiculus idea of swimming
across the county also seems not to be true. There are no motivation, no rational sense. What
is more the action is, in some way, repetitive and goes very fast. The weather and seasons
change rappidly, in association with the mood and well-being of the main protagonist. Nedd
starts his journey full of energy and is greeted warmly by his friends who were drunk and
happy but as he continues and when he is close to the end he becomes fatigued and loses the
sense of time and place. The neighbors also begin to behave in a cold manner toward him.
Neddy is shocked for hearing some deatailed information about himselves.
All in all, anything in the story is sure. The journey across the country can be allegory of
alcohol addiction or the proces of ageing. Reception of the book depends on the readers
attitude and ability to draw connections between certain elements.