The Stories of John Cheever

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller each of the main characters played a role in causing the events that occurred. Abigail Williams and John Proctors affair was probably one of the biggest reasons for the events that occurred in Salem during the year 1692. In The Crucible it was Abigail Williams’s flaws – Dishonesty, Jealousy, and Lust – that led her to be most responsible for the tragedy of the witch-hunt in Salem. Abigail showed dishonesty by saying that Elizabeth Proctor always kept…

The Swimmer by John Cheever is about Neddy Merrill, a man that goes through an aquatic journey that leads to the discovery of his true self. Neddy Merrill is a middle age man with a “slenderness of youth” he is a likeable person Mrs. Graham and Enid Bunker describe his visit as a “a marvelous surprise” but when he decides to swim home from a friend 's pool party the way he views himself and the way others view him have changed. During Ned Merril journey it’s clear that time is passing faster…

The Country Husband by John Cheever details the life of Francis Weed after surviving a plane crash, and falling in love with a young girl in the neighborhood. In this work, Francis’s rebirth serves as an ironic take on the tradition ideals of rebirth. The traditional idea behind a rebirth is like that of a baptism; to show a cleansing of sins and to give the character an opportunity at a new life. However, in Francis Weed’s case, his rebirth is such that he becomes a worse person, thus…

accusation was Red Scare and the Red Army. There are multiple rumors throughout the stories of McCarthyism. The articles tie to “The Crucible” because McCarthyism has to do with the play. McCarthyism is about the witch hunt and it gives the facts about it; as of the play acts it out for the reader to…

Have you ever thought of someone being in a similar situation you’re in? Out of the seven billion people living on Earth, it is likely that more than one person has a similar situation you're in. In the stories “My Sister’s Marriage” by Cynthia Marshal Rich and “The Five-Forty-Eight” by John Cheever showcase two men, Dr. Landis from “My Sister’s Marriage” and Blake from “The Five-Forty-Five”. Dr. Landis and Blake face their own problems from the people they interact with, which is a result of…

as long as time itself men have lived and died for Honor. Men have been elevated to Knighthood or left in squalor for an act or breach of Honor respectively. In the story “Barn Burning,” by William Faulkner (1897-1962) describes this very battle between a man and his son. The honor of the family versus the honor of one’s self. The story takes place in Yoknapatawpha, an imaginary county in Mississippi. In this county like most across America there are a couple family names that hold a lot of…

dates back as far as 1608 when John Smith wrote A True Relation of…Virginia. The 18th and 19th centuries began the publishing of the first novels and authors such a Edgar Allan Poe and Washington Irving began publishing works related to the War of 1812(digital). Literature throughout history has reflected society and reading early American Literature today shines light on not only those outstanding works but also the history of America. Literature not only tells a story but also causes a reader…

What makes a story great? According to many, it all depends on characterisation and keeping the plot originally fascinating. There are also various integrals that help support these aspects of a “great story” which are thoroughly arranged in The Swimmer and Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? The first story listed is by John Cheever and tells the tale of a man journeying to retain his youth, but in the end, loses more than he realises. Ironically enough, this is similar to what the…

This analytical essay is about the criticism essay “Perverted Sacraments,” written by Hal Blythe and John Cheever’s “The Swimmer”. The title of this article “Perverted Sacraments” is very interesting in its word choice. Perverted means (of a person or their actions) characterized by sexually abnormal and unacceptable practices or tendencies. Sacrament means a religious ceremony or act of the Christian Church that is regarded as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace, in…

In the crucible there is a big dilemma, there are lies about everything and you can’t trust anybody if you were in the story. We as people reading the book have a very good idea of what’s going on in the beginning, towards the end we know exactly what is going on. We see who is good and bad and who is telling the truth and who is lying and the people who are telling the truth are getting punished and there is nothing we can do about it so we just watch the good people who grew onto us as we were…