Chaos Reading discussion

Philosophical short story by John Cheever, The Swimmer.

Online here:

The Swimmer

As PDF:

The Swimmer PDF

Initial thoughts:
The significance of alcohol to the progression of the story,
The relevance of the conversation with the barman,
How much does Neddy cause the outcome of the story, does his environment have a bearing?

As an aside: has anyone seen the film version? If so how does it compare/differ?

The more disoriented Ned gets, the more he seems to crave an ever-elusive drink. What struck me most about this story the first time I read it was this feeling that time was traveling in opposite directions... Ned is "swimming" through his history or youth to arrive at his future (one he either won't admit or can't remember from drinking too much). It's like he's trying to find a lost past while being forced to age/face the present.

I hadn't really considered his environment as being to blame. He seems unwilling to take responsibility for any of it.

Haven't seen the film version.

Would you characterize this story as allegorical or symbolic? I'm not sure quite what I'd call it, but I took to it the first time I read it and can't say it's lost any of the initial charm upon rereading.

Ned repeatedly treats those around him in a very superficial manner, right from the beginning he sees them as an inconvenience, merely getting in the way of his focus, his only reference being to love that with his mistress, that of the kind ultimately inconsequential to him. I did wonder if the social climate of the time (I'm presuming this is US post-war affluence 50s? 60s?) is the real target. Yes, Ned is seemingly lost to drink but everyone else is drinking too and several of the neighbours are caught up in shallow ideals. I think Ned's reaction to the incoming storm is telling: he doesn't understand why but it excites him more than anything. Maybe the one thing in his life he can own is running it into a ditch.

Also really effective in showing how his sense of self is completely invented, near the beginning he refers to himself as legendary etc, but sets out to prove this by doing something outlandish and completely of his own will, the only consideration to others being the naming of his river after his wife. How bitter that river flows to the loss of his family. Perhaps shows the self delusion of the alcoholic? Or just how life can run away from anybody. Certainly the steady decline in Ned is demonstrated by the reactions of those around him which he seems unable to process until its too late for him. I'd certainly put the story in the realm of the allegorical especially with reference to our relationship to ageing and the social commentary aspect, I would even nudge as far as traditional parable. Not sure on pinning down the moral sense but I think that's very much on purpose.

The manner in which the neighbours are placed to illustrate Ned's decline is great, they do the job of representing the journey he is on but unable to grasp for himself, the key meeting being I think with his more free spirited neighbours halfway through where he strips naked, something he wanted to do earlier on, as a response to their nakedness but they impart some home truths to him, but he just carries on with his quest.

Thanks for picking up on this Marc :) Probably would've stayed on my TBR for yonks if you hadn't've pointed it out. Definitely deserves a repeat reading - oodles there to digest, I think.