Reunion By John Cheever Analysis

Family fiction is an important genre that allows readers to find humor and understanding in relatable situations. Whether it is divorce, a sibling rivalry, the death of a parent or any other myriad of problems that families endure, family fiction provides a novel way of coping, understanding and surviving. As Professor Gottschall states, stories are “often a major way we make sense out of and prepare for reality” and this holds true for the two stories we read in class last week. In “Reunion” by John Cheever, the reader sees what it is like to attempt and fail at rekindling a relationship an estranged parent. In “Silver Water” by Amy bloom, the audience gets an insight into what it is like to lose a sibling. Both stories call for reform in the healthcare system by presenting a relatable family situation that is crippled by a mental illness. In “Reunion” by John Cheever, the theme of mental illness is a little bit more subtle. In context, this was written in the 1960’s so mental illness was something that was …show more content…
We get our first tip to Charlie’s father’s condition on the pair’s first encounter. As Charlie leaned in for a hug, he smelled a “rich compound of whiskey and after shave lotion, shoe polish, woolens, and the rankness of a mature male”. The smell of whiskey was very subtle detail but, nonetheless, an important one because it says a lot about the father. He is drunk in the morning. Alcoholism is a form of addiction which is a psychological dependency. The Mayo Clinic defines alcoholism as a “chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol” which fits Charlie’s father to the t. This is exampled by him clamoring for a drink at every restaurant for a “Beefeater Gibson” to his final slurred spoonerism “Bibson Geefeater”. All