"
(Cheever)
In the narration Ned continues on his journey home. Once he is home it is revealed that his house is indeed empty and his wife and daughters are gone. This is just one example of the conflict that exist in this narration between was is reality and what is illusion.
In addition to this aspect of conflict in The Swimmer, there is also a great deal of conflict associated with Ned's ability to swim across the county. This conflict exist because Ned also drank strong alcoholic beverages throughout his journey. It would have been next to impossible for him to swim after he had consumed just a few of these drinks. This is an obvious conflict that would have hindered his journey but the author presents it as fact and not fiction.
The presence of conflict is not confined to The Swimmer. Conflict is also a major them in "The Five-Forty-Eight," written in 1954. In this particular short story the entire narrative is centered around a conflict between Blake and a woman the he had a one night stand with. Blake is held at gunpoint and there is a great deal of tension in this partiular short story as a result.
Conclusion
The purpose of this discussion was to explore the major themes that are seen throughout his various works. The research found that themes concerning New England, infidelity, conflict and journeys are present throughout the works of John Cheever. The research seems to suggest that Cheever's opinions of New England were shaped in part by his upbringing. The research also found that Cheever utilizes journeys to provide a focal point in some of his works. That is, the journey becomes a central point n many of his narratives. They provide movement to the narrative. The characters always have a destination, they...
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