The story “The Wrysons” written by John Cheever is a typical narrative about an American couple that preferred everything familiar to the unusual that they distrusted. The life of these people revolved around their comfort zone, and they were incredibly unwilling to welcome any change in their well-organized existence (Cheever 319). Therefore, the story’s mood is quite gloomy and dull, and it is highlighted by the brightness of the world compared to the family’s life.
At the beginning of the story, the author sarcastically contrasts the events happening to the town and the reaction of the Wrysons. In this case, the feeling of dullness is conveyed with the definition of their civil position as being “active in upzoning” as an attempt to remain the same (Cheever 319). This impression is complemented by the lack of interest in other aspects of community life demonstrated by the family.
Throughout the narrative, Cheever emphasizes the oddness of the Wrysons by telling them about their habits. Thus, the gloomy view of their existence comes from the obsession of Irene with the dreams about hydrogen bombs and the burned cake baked by Donald (Cheever 326). However, the couple does not share their ideas about the world, and this fact adds to the perception of these people’s lives as inharmonious.
To sum up, the story about the Wrysons is a clear example of the dull and gloomy side of the American lifestyle. The exaggeration in describing the existence of the family provides a picture of the outcome that is likely to happen to everyone who clings to the past or their habits. In this way, their experience can be considered as an inappropriate pattern of behavior for people who want to evolve with the times.
Work Cited
Cheever, John. The Stories of John Cheever. Ballantine Books, 1980.