Jim And Irene Westcott Analysis

The author makes a point, to describe Jim Westcott, Irene Westcott and their children, as the seemingly comfortable middle class family. He makes mention of their physical and material appearances seeming to be untouched by the strains of life. Cheever, wants his readers to catch simple mentions, in his text, that the family, though outwardly appearing to have accomplished the American dream with ease and without hardships along the way, is really just pretending. “Jim and Irene Westcott were the kind of people who seem to strike that satisfactory average of income…” (101 Cheever). “…she wore a coat of fitch skins dyed to resemble mink” (101 Cheever). “but you could at least say of him that he seemed to feel younger” (101 Cheever).
According to Cheever, the Westcott Family has everything all figured out. They were not like the rest of societies’ dysfunctional dreamers. The family did not want for anything, they had a perfectly functioning marriage, family and social life. Cheever, paints Jim and Irene as the picture-perfect example of the flawless American dream, not desiring for anything emotionally, physically and in want or need of any material possessions.
The author describes the radio as an out of date appliance, which was very delicate, and fickle. Very, little did …show more content…
Having the new radio fixed symbolizes American societies’ need to have everything perfect, not wanting to admit, or even observe that there is flaws, in everyone and everything. Furthermore, denying the fact that our possessions will fix nothing. American’s and other industrialized countries long for more, most citizens seem to never have enough, we are always looking for the next thing to make us happy. Once we acquire it, we realize that we are still not satisfied, and look for the next thing to fix or obtain. The perfection that we yearn for and seek in all the wrong places, is really just a distraction, of our real need for