John Cheever, who suffered from alcoholism in his prime (Cooke), provides a look into the progression of life as an alcoholic through extensive allusions to Gatsby's relationships to high society and Dante’s path through the nine circles of hell in his short story, The Swimmer. Both Dante’s Inferno and The Great Gatsby have an undertone of sin and sorrow, feelings that often haunt alcoholics and are portrayed in all three pieces of literature.
Hints that Neddy suffers from alcoholism and a toxic environment are planted in the minds of the reader from the beginning, as the word “drunk” is repeated multiple times in the first conversation (Cheever 726). Here. Neddy maps his journey by the names of each household like Gatsby composes a party …show more content…
The second portrayal of life comes in the physical condition of Neddy as he progresses from pool to pool; the protagonist starts out virile and adventurous, steadily becoming somber and discouraged. This is the impact of traversing the nine circles of hell. Though Kozikowski also mentions the obstacles of gravel and hot pavement (369), these are not the only traitorous conditions Neddy must face; the weather becomes colder and the pools (alongside the residents) become more uninviting and harsh with each new encounter. One particularly unforgiving experience was crossing the intersection before the Recreation Center. Here Neddy’s resolve quickly crumbles to desperation under the scrutiny and shower of trash (much like the conditions of the gluttonous in the third circle) by the ongoing traffic (731). Upon arriving at the Recreation Center, which Kozikowski compares to the fifth circle (370) with its murky water and Neddy’s struggling through the crowd of patrons (732). The fear of contamination reflects Neddy’s realization of his drinking problem and the surroundings he allowed himself to endure. Finally, the ninth circle parallels Neddy’s house frozen in time and forgotten in the midst of his consumption with the journey (Cheever