The Swimmer Metaphors

There are many ways in which an author uses symbolism and metaphor as a means of communicating various ideas to the reader. For example, in Ozick’s short story, the shawl carries a certain amount of significance to each character that aids in the creation of artistic unity. Also, the strength of symbol’s impact on the reader largely depends on the context in which they are used. Furthermore, some stories use a narrative form of allegory in which the characters are meant to represent a larger humanistic trait, such as the degeneration of societal values, and attempt to convey some larger lesson, such as the importance of balance, or meaning to life that enhances the meaning of a story. In short, there are an immeasurable number of ways in which …show more content…
The extended metaphor is shown by understanding that the manifest content of Ned “swimming through the pools” is actually latent with another meaning, that it is actually Ned’s oblivious downward spiral into alcoholism. Also, Cheever uses three contextual symbols that are meant to represent Neddy’s troublesome, episodic life. First, the Lucinda River represents his life as he dives deeper and deeper into alcoholism. For example, as he advanced toward the end of the string of pools, he did not dive but went down the steps into the icy water which symbolizes his diminishing conscious desire to enjoy the pools. Second, the weather in the story represent the troubles in his life that he ignores consistently. For example, as the storms pass him, Ned does not stop because the alcohol always serves as his instinctual method of escape from reality and ironically enough, his primordial life force. Third, the pools represent the different periods of time in which he experiences physical, mental, and financial decay as shown when he ¨was so stupefied with exhaustion that his triumph seemed vague” when he finally reaches his vacant …show more content…
In doing so, he uses three contextual symbols that represent Herbert’s true identity. First, the piano symbolizes his passion and who he really is. Additionally, the piano allows Foster to transform into the spitting image of his father when Herbert "'Startlingly' 'disappeared'" while playing the piano. Furthermore, this transformation represents his utmost alignment with himself and the universe; an experience that no sum of money or number of women could fulfill. This experience of a piano, a bottle of gin, and a cigarette altogether at one time is his most enlightening and most valuable experience. Therefore, this experience acts as a sort of portal into his father's dimension of passion for music. In other words, Foster accepts the addictive qualities of his father despite what his mother said about him and about the dedication required to be a part of a family. Second, the wall represents Herbert’s double life in that he keeps which is a universal symbol. In addition, the wall that Foster reaches into in order to take out a portfolio symbolizes the concealment of a sort of secret. In other words, this secret is the adherence to his father's side of the family. Also, this secret is like the piano in that it provides another connection to his father. Third, the portfolio