On this ordinary “midsummer Sunday” (111) afternoon, Neddy Merill decides to embark on a journey to his house located eight miles from the Westerhazy’s residence, where he is currently located at the start of his journey. This journey Neddy wants to embark on seems quite strange. Why would a wealthy high-class elite want to walk around all day to arrive at his home when he can simply drive and would arrive faster, in contrast to, the time it would take for him to arrive on foot. Simple, although it is the middle of the day, that does not stop Neddy in indulging in the suburban tradition of drinking. Even at the start of his journey Needy is drunk leading to the idea that this journey he wants to embark on is just a drunken endeavor he wants
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Mrs. Graham views Needy’s visit as a “marvelous surprise” (113); to Needy, being viewed as a marvelous surprise steams from how busy he has gotten over the years. Therefore, taking the time out of his day to visit specific individual’s shows that are in his closed group—distinguishing those who are in his hierarchal social subdivision. However, although this is a very pleasant encounter, where at the end of his visit Mrs. Graham provides Needy an alcoholic drink; from this point on, the visits become increasingly unwelcoming. Needy continues to visit other neighbors within his community; however, upon his arrival at the Levy’s residence, although there is no one to be found, this is the first indication that shows us there has been a time lapse between what Needy perceives to the actual time that has passed. Upon his arrival to the Levy’s residence a storm has crept up behind Neddy forcing him to stay in the Levy’s gazebo until the storm has passed. This isolation the storm forces upon Needy has a two-fold effect, for starters, waiting in the gazebo forces his sobriety causing him to reflect on the current situation and determine if the events he recalls match his chronology of events. For example, during his wait in the gazebo, Needy questions if the “Japanese lanterns that Mrs. Levy had bought in Kyoto the year before last, or […] the year before that” (115). Being unable to recall a
Mrs. Graham views Needy’s visit as a “marvelous surprise” (113); to Needy, being viewed as a marvelous surprise steams from how busy he has gotten over the years. Therefore, taking the time out of his day to visit specific individual’s shows that are in his closed group—distinguishing those who are in his hierarchal social subdivision. However, although this is a very pleasant encounter, where at the end of his visit Mrs. Graham provides Needy an alcoholic drink; from this point on, the visits become increasingly unwelcoming. Needy continues to visit other neighbors within his community; however, upon his arrival at the Levy’s residence, although there is no one to be found, this is the first indication that shows us there has been a time lapse between what Needy perceives to the actual time that has passed. Upon his arrival to the Levy’s residence a storm has crept up behind Neddy forcing him to stay in the Levy’s gazebo until the storm has passed. This isolation the storm forces upon Needy has a two-fold effect, for starters, waiting in the gazebo forces his sobriety causing him to reflect on the current situation and determine if the events he recalls match his chronology of events. For example, during his wait in the gazebo, Needy questions if the “Japanese lanterns that Mrs. Levy had bought in Kyoto the year before last, or […] the year before that” (115). Being unable to recall a