Parody And The Suburban Aesthetic By John Cheever

When writing a short story or novel, authors sometimes draw inspiration from their own lives. Because of this, the stories they write may even become an outlet for problems they are experiencing on the inside. These problems they are facing can range from a drug addiction to a struggle with their own sexuality. One notable short story writer who did this was John Cheever. Cheever wrote about people in suburban America who appear normal on the outside, but are experiencing problems on the inside. Like these characters, Cheever experienced deep internal struggles.

John Cheever was born on May 27, 1912, in Quincy, Massachusetts. Cheever’s birth however, “wasn't planned, as his parents sometimes remarked” (Miller). This lack of planning is most clearly seen when you observe the seven year age difference between Cheever and his

Cheever would write about about characters who tried to deny that “their lives are fraught with problems” (“John Cheever:Parody and The Suburban Aesthetic”). Cheever also tried to deny feelings by telling a fictional story “about his own life” (Simon). Both Cheever and his characters would “feel isolated in moral dilemmas” (“John Cheever:Parody and The Suburban Aesthetic”). This connection between Cheever and his characters was just one aspect of his writing. Throughout Cheever’s short stories, a few common themes have recurred. The first of these themes is “beneath the surface of quotidian human life is a grotesque and destructive element” (“John Cheever”). This theme is similar to how Cheever would try to appear to have a normal life, but in reality was struggling internally. Another theme that would appear repeatedly throughout “Cheever’s work is nostalgia” (“John Cheever”). Cheever’s characters would yearn for the past. John Cheever has been taking inspiration from his own life and using these themes even since his first work,