Analyse af John Cheevers novelle 'Reunion'

Analysis and interpretation of the short story ‘Reunion’

By John Cheever

The short story” Reunion” is written by John Cheever. The story was published in 1962 and in 1978 the story got a part of the short story collection “The Stories of John Cheever”. The genre of the short story “Reunion” is a nonfiction text. That is shown because the story is based on real events. The most substantial themes in this story is alcoholism, identity, family issues and disappointment.

Cheever was an American novelist and short story writer. He was born in 1912 and grew up with both an alcoholic father and brother, but Cheever chose another path and instead began writing novels and poems. Cheever became one of the greatest writers in the era and wrote some of the most iconic short stories that described the typical New yorker in the 50’s and 60’s. Including the short story ‘Reunion’.

Cheever writes the short story ‘Reunion’ from Charlie’s point-of-view, which is exemplified when Charlie states, “that was the last time I saw my dad”. The story is told in first person narrative and the narrator is giving the reader a detailed description of the setting and the characters. This is exemplified when Charlie says, “He put his arm around me, and I smelled my father the way my mother sniffs a rose It was a rich compound of whiskey and after-shave lotion, shoe polish, woolens, and the rankness of a mature male”. This phrase gives the reader a great described impression of what the father looks and fells like.