Diving into John Cheever’s Short Story, The Swimmer Essay

In John Cheever’s short story, â€Å"The Swimmer† he conveys the transformation of the character through the use of the literary element of setting. The story begins in an American, middle class, suburbs. After what seems to be a night of partying and drinking. Neddy Merrill, the main character initially appears very optimistic; he has a perfect family, high social status and very few problems in his life. In spite of his age, he feels young and energetic therefore decides to swim across town through the neighborhood pools. However, his journey becomes less and less enjoyable as the day unfolds. The water become murky, uninviting and he becomes exhausted. Also the people in his surrounding become less cordial including his†¦show more content†¦Neddy unknowingly had become poor, lost all privileges and was no longer regarded highly in his society. Cheever implements setting throughout the story to primarily emphasize on the character’s transition from the begging to end of his journey. The story begins on a â€Å"midsummer Sunday—at the edge of the Westerhazy’s pool—on one hand†¦one glass of gin† (Cheever 215). Everything seems swelling and wonderful. He realizes that he can swim home through the â€Å"swimming pools, that quasi-subterranean stream that curved across the country† (Cheever 216). At this point, Neddy feels â€Å"determinedly original and had a vague and modest idea of himself as a legendary figure† (Cheever 216). Evidently at this point he feels on top, capable of the impossible. However, in the course of his journey you can perceive how the changing of setting represents the change within the character itself. As the setting worsened so did the characters circumstances. He â€Å"stepped through thorny hedges†, experienced a storm â€Å"the cumulus clouds—had risen and darkened† and a drained pool (Cheever 216,217). Ultimately the once optimistic Nedd y became â€Å"miserable, cold, tired, and bewildered† (Cheever 222). Most importantly Cheever implements the type of temporal and socialShow MoreRelatedThe Nightmare in Bullet Park884 Words   |  4 PagesOften times people go on a quest in search of something they desire, but as protagonist Neddy Merrill discovers, the quest does not always turn out as planned and instead leads the quester in the direction of self-discovery. In his 1964 short story â€Å"The Swimmer,† John Cheever depicts the disastrous downfall of a man who impulsively decides to journey home through a course of swimming pools, but instead unconsciously escaping reality. Neddy Merrill abruptly decides to begin his journey home one Sunday

A Good Man Is Hard For Find By Flannery O Conner Essay

Flannery O’Conner grew up in the backwoods of Georgia, where she found her inspiration for her writing. Her Southern heritage was not the only thing that influenced her though; often her Roman Catholic faith would impact her stories as well (Ellis 35-36). She described herself as a â€Å"Catholic peculiarly possessed of the modern consciousness† (qtd. in Hubbard 38) and stated that â€Å"the best of [her] work sounded like the old testament would sound if it were being written today† (qtd. in Kreyling 85). As such, O’Conner is known for her portrayal of religious themes throughout her writings. In â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† Flannery O’Conner utilizes violence in order to develop the grandmother’s character within the story, and by doing so, she is able to demonstrate the difference between having a moral code and being virtuous. For clarity, a person with a moral code by no means has to be virtuous, for a moral code is simply â€Å"a set of rules or a code of conduct which governs how an individual should act within a community† (Pam). By following a moral code, a character is not necessarily morally good. We see this clearly in the grandmother. From the very beginning, it is made clear that the grandmother’s perception of right and wrong is rather superficial; that is to say, she bases both her code of conduct and her perception of being â€Å"good† off of the opinions of others. Making this abundantly clear in the very beginning of the story, O’Conner writes a full paragraph to overlyShow MoreRelatedA Good Man Is Hard And Find By Flannery O Conner1735 Words   |  7 PagesIn the short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† Flannery O’Conner tells how a family’s vacation comes to a tragic end in the hands of a dangerous criminal called The Misfit. The ir onic title indicates that men are hard to find due to their chauvinistic, short-tempered, and arrogant behaviors. However a controversial ending with the grandmother and the Misfit reveals a redemption scene which entails the behavior of woman. The women, including a girl, in this short story have patriarchal views ofRead MoreSummary Of A Good Man Is Hard And Find By Flannery O Conner1687 Words   |  7 PagesThe Grandmother in â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find† â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find† is a short story written by Flannery O’Conner and published in 1953. It tells a story of a family on their trip to Florida who happen to be found accidentally by The Misfit, a serial killer who has just escaped a federal prison and is on his way to Florida as well. The grandmother is the central character in the story who becomes the only family member killed by The Misfit, compared to the other family member who were killedRead MoreHypocritical Religion1175 Words   |  5 Pagesworshiping God, while others could care less about believing in a God or not. Flannery ‘o Connor, who was a zealous Roman Catholic, wrote stories with the underlining mean that Catholics work harder for their beliefs than any other religions. She uses her writing to vent about Christians singly using God when their life gets difficult, instead of living by the Christian faith. A story she wrote called â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Fine† gives the per fect example of her expressing her anger with people whoRead More`` A Good Man Is Hard, And `` The Necklace `` By Flannery O Conner And The926 Words   |  4 PagesHave you ever wondered why is pride considered one of the seven deadly sins? Pride is known to be the root of self-destruction. The two short stories, A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O Conner and The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, practically share the same theme about the pitfalls of pride. The grandmother in A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Mathilde Loisel in The Necklace are demonstrated as two conceited women. While there are many similarities between the two short stories, there areRead MoreSouthern Gothic Writing Style1488 Words   |  6 Pagesimpact. This essay will explore the use of this writing style as presented in A Good Man is Hard to Find, A Rose for Emily and Good Country People. Each of the stories analyzed in this essay explore the writer’s use of a Southern Gothic writing style to enhance their point of criticizing societal problems in Southern America. Elements of macabre and irony are present in A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’ Conner to support the author’s criticism of social classes in Southern society. The storyRead MoreThe Difference Between Right And Wrong And Good Versus Evil1095 Words   |  5 PagesWendi Dunlap English 1302 11 May 2015 Good versus Evil The difference between right and wrong and good versus evil can be simplified in a basic short story text. Flannery O Connor bases its concept of good versus evil in A Good Man is Hard to Find. The characters justify this theory. Flannery O Conner, as a Catholic, saw the nature of good vs. evil and centers around the literature A Good Man is Hard to Find, by utilizing the roles of these characters. O Connor’s theory is contributed to God’sRead MoreA Good Man Is Hard To Find Analysis743 Words   |  3 PagesIn the Flannery O’Connor’s short story, â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† we find out that the title indicates of what the story is about. The title actually came from the lyrics of a song written by Eddie Green in 1918. The title of â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery O’Conner is quite ironic really. The reader expects to eventually find a good man in the story, but is quite surprised at the ending of the story. The title A Good Man is Hard to Find is expressed clearly in this story by introducingRead MoreSouthern Gothic Writing Style1497 Words   |  6 Pagesimpact. This essay will explore the use of this writing style as presented in A Good Man is Hard to Find, A Rose for Emily and Good Country People. Each of the stories analyzed in this essay explore the writer’s use of a Southern Gothic writing style t o enhance their point of criticizing societal problems in Southern America. Elements of macabre and irony are present in A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’ Conner to support the author’s criticism of social classes in Southern society. The storyRead MoreIrony In A Good Man Is Hard To Find1170 Words   |  5 PagesFlannery O’Conner, a Gothic literature writer, has written several short stories throughout her life. Among these stories, two of them being A Good Man is Hard to Find and Good Country People, she has included some of the most fleshed out and grotesque characters I have ever read. O’Conner brings her characters to life throughout her writing in near flawless and subtle detail with ironic humor. For example, O’Conner makes skillful use of ironic names for her characters. The titles and namesRead MoreA Good Man Is Hard And Find By Flannery O Connor824 Words   |  4 Pagesopinion. Instead, you should focus on the moral dilemma the character experiences and analyze how he/she wrestles with this dilemma beyond what is obvious in the plot. What literary elements draw out this conflict? When reading, A good man is hard to find by Flannery O Connor, the question intrigues the reader to read further, about the infamous Villian, The Misfit. The grandmother is the other key character in this short story. The older woman is overpowered by temptation, regardless of what her

The Stimulus FDI has Provided in Harnessing Indias Economic Potential free essay sample

An in-depth analysis of the role FDI (foreign direct investment) has played within the Indian economy. This paper analyzes the role Foreign Direct Investment has played within the Indian economy. It traces FDIs history in India as well as the socio-economic and geo-political factors which have led to the inflow of FDI. The paper studies the success and failures within industry- specific areas such as power, telecom, IT and BPO. It also deals with Indias struggle through policies of protectionism and repudiation to large scale reforms, divestments and privatization. The research is somewhat critical of the use of FDI but looks at all aspects of FDI and its role within the Indian economy. Table of Contents Opening the Indian Economy and the Magnitude of FDI Introduction FDI and Comments on Governmental Policy Formulation for Promotion of MNE s Imperative of Attracting Export-oriented FDI through MNE s A Professional Approach to Promotion The Socio-Economic and Geo-political Factors Leading to Liberalization- based Policies in India Evolution of Government Policy in Conjunction with Promotion of FDI through MNEs Evolution of Government policy: 1948 ? 1967 The Restrictive Phase: 1968-1979 The Opening up of the 1980s Structural Adjustment and Globalization: 1990s Government Policy and Trends in Foreign Investments and Collaboration Inflows of FDI and an Analysis of Historic Comparative Advantages as Opposed to Knowledge Based Growth FDI and Pitfalls Related to Inflow Historic Comparative Advantages Lost Ideologies in Globalized Paradise Case Power Sector Knowledge Based Growth Case: Telecom Scandal The IT and BPO sectors Case Examples Western Demand and Dupplies Curves Comments Indian Liberalization Targets vs. We will write a custom essay sample on The Stimulus FDI has Provided in Harnessing Indias Economic Potential or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page FDI policy Inflows Foreign Investment Policy Magnitude of FDI Inflows Steps India Can Take to Accelerate Increases in FDI Inflows National Promotion as Brand for Inflow of FDI Focus on Tertiary Service Sector Rural Cottage and Agro-based Businesses for Large-scale, Economic Production for Exports Bureacracy Reduce Privitzation Acceleration Investment in Domestic Infrastructure and Projects Conclusion and Recommendations Limitations and Future Research Conclusions from Investigation Recommendations Personal Review Various other policies have been laid out since and have been put into effect as an attempt on the part of the Indian government to firmly safeguard MNE s business interests and promote a competitive environment. Since 1991, India has received a number of delegations of potential foreign investors and the most recent one which is worth mentioning is Mr Bill Clintons delegation to India which has literally brought about huge FII (Foreign Institutional Investments) up to an estimated $4 dollars within a week. The US has also provided MNE s to borrow from the EXIM and World banks to further invest in India up to the tune of $750 Million. An indicator of the changed Indian environment is the fact that two giants that left the country following restrictions placed on them under FERA, IBM and Coca-Cola, have both recently come back. IBM has set up a joint venture with the TATA group of companies and Coca-Cola has taken over the local soft drink maker manufacturer, Parle.