The Problem of Charlie's Father in John Cheever’s 'Reunion'
In this paper I want you to select a passage or scene in either one of the longer short stories we read by Cheever or O'Hara OR from one of the first two sections of Colm Toibin's novel Brooklyn. Pick an episode or passage that intrigued, startled or provoked you for what ever reason. I then want you to do a "close reading" of the passage: first giving a quick summary description and then contextualizing it in terms of plot--what precedes and what happens (or fails to happen) afterward. Discuss any surprising or memorable actions, statements, images or symbols that seem important to the scene and how the scene contributes to the overall work. If you select the novel, you don't have to read the entire work by the time you complete this paper (though you can if you wish) but you can still discuss the episode in terms of its immediate consequences and thus in a way that allows you to speculate on what might happen, on what foreshadowing or future conflict the scene implies and how it could be resolved. Must be written in third person.
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Formal Paper Assignment
The passage the author chooses to analyze is the second last in John Cheever’s “Reunion.” In this passage, Charlie’s father is insistent on annoying the newsstand man even though he has not done anything wrong. However, this is no surprise to the reader because Charlie’s father has been annoying waiters and other hospitality personnel before he and Charlie stop at the newsstand. It is clear from this passage that Charlie’s father has a major problem. He might be stressed out, but the most obvious explanation is that he does not want to spend quality time with his son. He is deliberately pushing away his son. As seen in the following passage, Charlie has had enough. He tells his father goodbye and heads for the train.
Before Charlie and his father arrive at the newsstand, they have been to an Italian restaurant. Here, they have not had anything to eat because all the tables are reserved. Although this seems coincidental, it could be that Charlie’s father knew that the restaurant operated on reservations. Thus, by taking his son there, he already knows that they might not get any service. Also, before going to the Italian restaurant, Charlie and his father had been to three other restaurants. Each time, his father had been rude to the waiters. As a result, they had not received any service. Although Charlie’s father could have controlled his behavior each time, as stated earlier, he does not seem interested in spending quality time with his son. So, the events in the Italian restaurant come as no surprise.
While at the newsstand, Charlie seems to grow tired of his father’s nuisance. So, he decides that he has to leave. He tells his father goodbye and heads for the train. Although it is no surprise that Charlie decides to leave, the reader instinctively expects something else to transpire. The reader expects that Charlie’s father and the newsstand man will be involved in an argument. Yet, the most apparent occurrence seems to be the passive dismissal of Charlie’s father by the newsstand man like all the waiters in the restaurants they have been to. Therefore, Charlie would have to tolera...