
As a father to four daughters living in an upscale suburban community, Neddy Merrill was no stranger to the social tactics of the urban elitists, for he was one himself. Though described as “far from young”, Neddy’s youthful demeanor is still very much alive.  His youthful mind, or more likely a drunken proposition, sprung the idea to travel the county merely through swimming pools, which he called the Lucinda River. Through the analysis of Neddy’s journey down the Lucinda River, it’s clear that he was experiencing a battle with alcoholism that played into symptoms of a midlife crisis. Neddy’s inability to recall significant facts in others’ lives and his own, is his way of denying the passage of time. The infatuation he has with his youth is what keeps him from feeling like he is growing old. Alcohol plays into this as a coping mechanism. In order to deal with “harsh facts” and growing old, Neddy turns to alcohol. 

“The force of the wind had stripped a maple of its red and yellow leaves and scattered them over the grass and water. Since it was midsummer the tree must be blighted, and yet he felt a peculiar sadness at the sign of autumn” (Cheever,    ). Neddy’s judgement of the tree is ironic in the sense that he thinks the tree is blighted, when in fact it is his own perception that is truly distorted. In literature, autumn generally symbolizes change, death, or maturity. Leaves die and fall from the trees in order to make way for new beginnings in the spring. The sadness that Neddy experiences due to the signs of autumn can be interpreted as the apprehension he feels towards growing old. Realizing his youthful persona was expected to mature into that of a wise individual was frightening to him. Neighboring friends had all grown up and faced their “adult issues”, whereas he had developed this “gift” of denying hard truths. Within the day that Neddy spends pool hopping, the weather transitions from a warm summer day to a cool fall evening. Constellations change, leaves are falling, and there is a significant change in temperature. Neddy’s character also experiences a rapid change. He grows weak, his swim trunks become too big, and he becomes very sad. 

“Was his memory failing or had he so disciplined it in the repression of unpleasant facts that he had damaged his sense of the truth” (Cheever,    ). Neddy was unable to recall any of the important events occurring in the lives of the people surrounding him, and even some events in his own life. Change surrounds him, but he is totally oblivious. This is partially due to the fact that he is in denial, and partially due to his infatuation with alcohol. Each house he arrived at, the first thing he did was search for a drink. With as many glasses he had consumed, he was sure to be intoxicated. Even the highest tolerance couldn’t save you from the amount that he had consumed. 

“Stooped, holding on to the gateposts for support, he turned up the driveway of his own house. The place was dark. Was it so late that they had all gone to bed? Had Lucinda stayed at the Westerhazys’ for supper? Had the girls joined her there or gone someplace else? Hadn’t they agreed, as they usually did on Sunday, to regret all their invitations and stay at home? He tried the garage doors to see what cars were in but the doors were locked and rust came off the handles onto his hands. Going toward the house, he saw that the force of the thunderstorm had knocked one of the rain gutters loose. It hung down over the front door like an umbrella rib, but it could be fixed in the morning. The house was locked, and he thought that the stupid cook or the stupid maid must have locked the place up until he remembered that it had been some time since they had employed a maid or a cook. He shouted, pounded on the door, tried to force it with his shoulder, and then, looking in at the windows, saw that the place was empty” (Cheever,    ).

He had denied so much, that he didn’t know his own family had left him. He returned from this journey, to nothing. The rust on the door handle indicates that it’s been a while since the home had been vacated in the first place. He, once again, had no idea how long it had been since they had a cook or maid. Mastering the art of denial has led him to lose his entire family. 

Neddy’s denial of time as if he had some sort of exemption is what led to his downfall. Though alcohol contributed to the landslide, his ego was the main contributor. He was fearful of growing old, and didn’t want to accept that reality and the responsibilities that come with it, just as someone in the midst of a midlife crisis would do.
