1. The Enormous Radio

Last week we read The Enormous Radio which was written by John Cheever. The story is examinig the American families of 1940's and the dream of perfect American family. Jim and Irene Westcott are the main characters of the book. Their dream was to have a house in the suburban country sides and have a life without any problems that are caused by lack of money and quarrels. They could hear the voices of their neighbors with their enormous radio. While their dream was being a perfect American family, the radio revealed the problems and hidden truths of the American families. Irene became curious about their neigbors' problems and secrets so she became addicted to the radio. As she became obsessed with the radio, she felt depressed instead of appreciation. She started to interrogate her own marriage and she could not stop listening the radio although it depreesed her. Their marriage became miserable and filled with a lot of problems.

The reason of their marriage problems was not the radio. They were far from perfect American family and Irene failed in hiding the problems. The radio only revealed their hidden problems. John Cheever reveals the truth that perfect American family does not exist by showing the truths with the help of the radio.

When i read the life of the author of story, John Cheever, i learned his addiction to alcohol. The story is a study of an addictive person and it is also a story of an addictive person, Irene! In my opinion John Cheevers' obsession to alcohol may have effect on his work.