It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong

It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong

John Cheever was a master of capturing the essence of suburban life in his writing, and his stories often revolved around the seemingly perfect facade that masked the underlying turmoil and dysfunction of his characters. The line "It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong" perfectly encapsulates the sense of false security and impending doom that permeates much of Cheever's work.

In many of Cheever's stories, the idyllic setting of a beautiful summer morning serves as a stark contrast to the dark and troubled lives of his characters. The bright sunshine and clear skies only serve to highlight the shadows lurking beneath the surface, as characters grapple with their own inner demons and the facade of perfection begins to crumble.

One of Cheever's most famous stories, "The Swimmer," perfectly illustrates this juxtaposition of beauty and darkness. The story follows Neddy Merrill as he decides to swim home through a series of pools in his affluent neighborhood, believing that he can reach his house by swimming through his neighbors' pools. As he progresses through the pools, the weather changes from a sunny summer day to a stormy autumn evening, mirroring the gradual unraveling of Neddy's life and the realization of the emptiness and despair that lie beneath the surface of his seemingly perfect existence.

Similarly, in "The Housebreaker of Shady Hill," the protagonist, Johnny Hake, embarks on a series of burglaries in his affluent neighborhood in an attempt to break free from the monotony and emptiness of his life. The story begins on a beautiful summer morning, with Johnny feeling invigorated and alive as he sets out on his criminal escapades. However, as the day progresses, Johnny's actions have unintended consequences, leading to a sense of unease and foreboding that undercuts the initial sense of freedom and excitement.