Times Are A-Changin Time is an uncontrollable juggernaut in the world. Merciless and irrefutable, it is a constant enemy of mankind.

In time, mans young, virile body becomes weak and sickened. Time proves to take its toll on a person. In John Cheevers The Swimmer, time is the main characters nemesis. As Ned, the focal character of the story, swims his way through the pools of his neighbors to get home, time escapes him and he comes to realize how he has left time, and his life, steal away. The Swimmer provokes readers to dwell on the inescapable passing of time and the unavoidable occurrence of change within a persons life. The movement of time is foremost acknowledged in The Swimmer as the weather changes. As Ned swims from pool to pool, traveling back to his home, the weather has changed to represent the passing time. At the beginning of the story, the sun is shining bright and it is warm. As Ned swims, the leaves begin to change color and a storm occurs, bringing about a very chilly temperature. The changing weather not only represents the passage of time, but also Ned emotions. At the beginning of the story, Ned is blissfully happy, deciding to embark on an adventurous journey. However, as he continues from pool to pool, he becomes confused and unhappy. The weather has reflected Neds tumult as he comes to the end of his journey to find that he cannot enter his home. Passing time is furthermore symbolized in the pools that Ned swims in in order to get to his home. At first, he swims through the pools of people who are friendly with him and even gives him a drink. As the story progresses, Ned jumps into a pool of a family that has moved (which he was not aware of), and into a pool of people he does not typically associate with. They are rude to him, putting him beneath him as they once were. As he comes across the pool of a woman hes had an affair with, he is completely rejected and is not even given a drink. Finally, as he reaches his home, he has no pool to swim. There is just an empty, dark house. Throughout Neds excursion, time as inevitably passed and Ned is now alone with no

family, no friends, and no mistress. Neds loneliness is permeable as he staggers up his driveway and pounds on the doors, proving just how Ned let his life slip away with time. Time, moreover, is emphasized through the dialogue in the story. When coming upon Mrs. Halloran, she states, "We've been terribly sorry to hear about all your misfortunes, Neddy." She continues by further explaining to a clueless Ned that he has sold his house. When he reaches the Sachses pool, Helen Sachs confers that her husband had been ill. After he confronts his ex-mistress Shirley Adams, she inquires, Will you ever grow up? to Ned. She then tells him she would not be giving him any more money. Ned is lost in perplexity, not understanding how his life has changed. The fact of the matter is that he doesnt see how much time has passed until it is too late. An ever moving force, Cheever grasped his audiences attention by warning of passing times and not being aware. With time, circumstances, status, people, and emotions are able to alter, sometimes without a persons knowledge. Time, in itself, is not the enemy. Ones own ignorance and self-centeredness is the real adversary. It is necessary to try to not take for granted the people, places, and things in ones life. Cheever warning rings clear, for no one wants to end up like Ned: on the outside peering into isolated darkness.