Affluence
Set in a prosperous suburb of New York, "The Swimmer" explores the luxury tied to America's elite. The narrative opens with Neddy Merrill at a cocktail gathering on a pleasant midsummer afternoon. He balances a drink in one hand while playfully splashing his other hand in a backyard swimming pool. Although pools are often seen as symbols of luxury, they are commonplace in this community. This abundance allows Neddy to undertake an eight-mile swim back to his house. The wealth of Neddy and his neighbors is further emphasized by the fact that one neighbor even owns a riding range, which Neddy must traverse on his journey home. The lavish lifestyle of the upper class is also apparent in the frequent, extravagant parties hosted by Neddy and his friends. At the story's outset, Neddy's wife and friends are bemoaning the indulgences of the previous night's festivities. Additionally, during his swim home, Neddy stops by other catered events. Ironically, as the story concludes, it becomes clear that Neddy is experiencing financial troubles.
Appearance vs. Reality
Although Neddy's social group enjoys financial security, their lives lack fulfillment and optimism. Critics have noted that their gatherings represent the hollowness of contemporary American society and the falseness and insincerity of the middle and upper classes. For example, Neddy seeks a sense of accomplishment and tries to relive his youth by swimming home—a gesture he perceives as significant but is ultimately bizarre and meaningless. The joy supposedly associated with wealth is also short-lived. Friends continue to offer their sympathies about Neddy's recent financial troubles, and the idealized suburban domestic life is shattered when it's revealed that, despite his seemingly happy marriage to Lucinda, Neddy has been unfaithful with a neighbor, Shirley Adams. This affair highlights Neddy's hypocrisy, which is also evident in his dealings with the Biswangers. Despite being frequently invited, Neddy and his wife always refused to attend the Biswangers' gatherings because they associated with the "wrong" type of people. This group includes real estate agents, veterinarians, and eye doctors; while all are skilled and respected community members, they do not fit into the Merrills' social circle.
Alienation and Loneliness
Neddy's affair and the circumstances surrounding his return home emphasize a deep feeling of isolation and alienation, which are key themes in "The Swimmer." Other elements in the story reinforce this thematic emphasis. For example, at the Biswangers' party, Neddy is ignored and treated like an intruder. The houses he encounters along his journey are frequently locked, with one even being vacant and up for sale. Ultimately, when Neddy arrives at his own home, he discovers it is dark, locked, and empty, with no trace of his wife or daughters.
The Life Cycle
"The Swimmer" delves into the themes of life's journey and the progression of time. At the beginning of the story, Neddy is depicted as being at the peak of his life and decides to swim home as a testament to his vitality. Initially, his adventure is effortless, but he soon encounters numerous hurdles. These include physical barriers like hedges, gravel paths, and highways, as well as interactions with friends and neighbors. As he presses on, he grows increasingly tired and becomes more conscious of his solitude. Cold, miserable, and somewhat intoxicated, he even contemplates giving up on his journey. Throughout his trek, Neddy's confidence falters, and his memory becomes unreliable. Friends express sympathy for his recent hardships, which he denies, leaving it ambiguous whether he's in denial or truly forgetful. By the conclusion of the story, Neddy is cold, exhausted, miserable, and alone, a stark contrast to the lively man who started the swim. The passage of time is also...
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illustrated through surreal elements, especially the changing seasons. Neddy begins his swim on a warm, sunny summer day, but by the end, he is caught in a fierce storm with falling temperatures. Additionally, the leaves have started to change color and fall, indicating the onset of winter.
Denial of Unpleasant Truths
“The Swimmer” has as its primary theme the power of the mind to deny unpleasant truths, or, to put it more positively, the determination of the ego to preserve itself in the face of events that might erode or obliterate one’s self-confidence. In order to grasp this theme, the reader must figure out roughly what has happened to Ned and how he has responded to those events.
The recent events of Ned Merrill’s life can be tentatively reconstructed once the story has been read. Evidently a few years past he had been living a comfortable suburban life with his wife, Lucinda, his four daughters, and a house boasting not only a cook and a maid but also a tennis court. When the story opens, the reader accepts Ned’s description of such a life as reflecting his present condition. However, clues quickly begin to mount that something has happened to Ned—a financial ruin that led to social ostracization and eventually to a psychological breakdown. Even while his journey is going well, he shows signs of dislocation. He cannot remember whether a neighbor had been in Japan last year or the year before. Another family, the Lindleys, has dismantled their riding ring, but he has only a vague memory of having known this. He asks another friend for a drink only to be told that “there hasn’t been anything in this house to drink since Eric’s operation. That was three years ago.” When he arrives at the house of his former mistress, he cannot remember how long ago their affair ended, and he has apparently lost all memory of having sold his house. In the last paragraph of the story, he still clings to the idea that his wife and daughters are due to return home at any moment.
Willfulness of the Mind
Ned is determined to hold on to his past despite the many signs that his former life has disappeared. This determination underscores the theme of the mind’s willfulness in the face of disaster. Ultimately, however, this strength of mind is impressive without being admirable because Ned’s conviction cannot restore to him his former happy life.