Having written a multitude of short stories and novels, author John Cheever has demonstrated his incredible writing skills on several occasions throughout throughout his career. Even as a child, Cheever outwardly expressed his desire to write. As his long career proves, Cheever's thirst for writing accompanied him throughout his life. In perhaps his most famous work, “The Swimmer,” Cheever’s impeccable writing ability is brilliantly showcased. Although originally intended as a novel, "The Swimmer" has become a widely recognized and analyzed short story, admired by readers and literary critics. Drawing on his personal life and using a wide range of writing techniques, Cheever depicts and documents the physical and mental demise of protagonist Neddy and his journey toward death, while connecting the plot to numerous other works . In doing so, Cheever ultimately addresses the negative side of the human condition. John Cheever was born on May 27, 1912, in Quincy, Massachusetts, to his parents Fredrick and Mary Cheever. Growing up, Cheever lived a life perpetually characterized by various difficulties. On the one hand, the Cheever family suffered a financial crisis in the mid-1920s when Cheever's father lost his job due to the demise of the New England shoe and textile industry. This, coupled with his poor performance in any academic subject other than writing, prompted John Cheever, then eighteen years old, to go live with his older brother, Fred Cheever, in Boston. The brothers' relationship would soon grow stronger and stronger as they spent more and more time together. Through their close relationship, Cheever quickly began to draw inspiration from Fred. Literary criticism...... middle of paper...... the emptiness of the suburbs, Cheever ultimately highlights the negative aspects of the human condition. In conclusion, John Cheever's short story, "The Swimmer", is an all-encompassing fiction that deals with the heavy subject of life and time. Incredibly, Cheever took inspiration from his own life and blended specific and personal elements into his work. This tactic proved effective, as it gave “The Swimmer” the ability to give a dark but accurate portrayal of the human condition. Cheever shines a light on the aspects of life that most people would rather ignore than face. In essence, Cheever used his abilities intelligently and, as a result, gave the literary world the wonderful story that is "The Swimmer." Works Cited Cheever, John. “The swimmer”. The Northon Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. Flight. E. New York: WW Norton, 2012. Print.