What does the ending of The Swimmer mean?
She ends up accompanying Ned on his swim. That is, until he makes a move to kiss her, after which she runs off. This is a crushing symbol of his faded youth; no longer is he the studly young man he once was. An even more obvious bit of symbolism is an earlier encounter with a horse in an open field.
What is the meaning of the film The Swimmer?
“The Swimmer” is the story of a man who begins at the dawn of a new day to swim in the backyard pool of some friends. The water is cool and fresh, and the day is beautiful. “The Swimmer” begins as a perfectly realistic film. But somewhere along the way we realize it is an allegory, and the ending makes that clear.
What is The Swimmer with Burt Lancaster about?
Well-off ad man Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb. Ned suddenly decides that he’d like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned’s journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures, until a final visit with an old flame (Janice Rule) leaves him devastated.
The Swimmer/Film synopsis
When you talk about The Swimmer will you talk about yourself?
In the original 1968 trailer to the movie, the narrator asks the question “When you talk about The Swimmer, will you talk about yourself?” Thankfully, Ned’s level of self-deception is not possible for typical people.
What happened to Ned Merrill in the swimmer?
Ned Merrill drowns in the deep end of his own shallow self-image of masculinity. And he does it, finally, at the steps of his own front door: When he finally reaches his home beneath a torrential winter storm, he finds that it is for sale, abandoned long ago.
What do the pools represent in the swimmer?
Swimming Pools The pools that Neddy swims through as he makes his way home represent periods of time that Neddy passes through. At the beginning of the story, Neddy is strong and active, feels deep contentment with his life, and is admired by his friends.
Where was the movie The Swimmer filmed?
Westport, Connecticut
It was filmed largely on location in Westport, Connecticut, hometown of director Frank Perry.
Why does Neddy Merrill decide to swim home?
He decides to swim home because his life is not confined to where he lives. He wants to discover all the swimming pools in the county. It is showing the reactions of his neighbor’s and friends as Neddy shows up at their pools and the changes to Neddy’s attitudes and feelings as his journey continues.
What does Neddy Merrill’s journey represent in the story?
Neddy Merrill’s journey is an excellent representation of the typical mid-life crisis that many middle and upper class suburbanite parents experience. It illustrates how ignorance, apathy, and an inability to recognize and accept reality can so quickly destroy lives and entire families in the blink of an eye.
Why did John Cheever write the swimmer?
John Cheever’s “The Swimmer” was published in 1964 in the short story collection The Brigadier and the Golf Widow. He also stated that he originally intended to write a story that paralleled the tale of Narcissus, a character in Greek mythology who died while staring at his reflection in a pool of water. …
What does water symbolize in the swimmer?
In the short story, The Swimmer, John Cheever employs water as a symbol for passing time and as a representation of escapism from lifes hardships. Cheevers main character, Ned Merrill, swims across the county via his neighborhood swimming pools. Cheever uses this idea to set a light-hearted tone to his story at first.
What is wrong with Neddy in The Swimmer?
The reader learns that Neddy has met with financial problems and had a mistress, who now treats him as an annoyance. His daughters also have gotten into trouble, and he appears to have developed a drinking problem.