Symbolism In The Swimmer By Cheever

537 Words3 Pages
In the use of symbolism of swimming, Cheever shows that addiction creates a reality where we hide from the real world and eventually destroy our life. Addiction to anything starts out simple but it can lead to devastating results. When addicted the world becomes different from the one you are used to. This then becomes your paradise which you then hide in. Ultimately it becomes your own personal reality which absorbs the very conscience. Every time you slip into the real world, you instantly want to go back to the safety you feel in the world you created. In The Swimmer, the main character Neddy faces these problems constantly. Neddy keeps trying to escape and stay in the world he believes is true. He lives in a constant illusion that only