The Swimmer

by

John Cheever

Mrs. Levy Character Analysis

Mrs. Levy is a neighbor who isn’t home when Neddy arrives, but there are signs everywhere that she was just entertaining and left suddenly. While the Levys have a “private property sign,” Neddy spends time in their backyard anyway, taking liberties with their home that would presumably make them uncomfortable. Mrs. Levy owns a set of Japanese lanterns from Kyoto, which is one of the first occasions for Neddy to question his extremely unreliable memory.
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Mrs. Levy Character Timeline in The Swimmer

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Levy appears in The Swimmer. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Swimmer
The Natural vs. The Artificial Theme Icon
Delusion and Repression Theme Icon
After swimming the Bunkers’ pool, Neddy crosses over to the Levys’ property, where he sees a “private property” sign. The Levys are away (there are “no... (full context)
The Natural vs. The Artificial Theme Icon
Delusion and Repression Theme Icon
...warn of it with their songs. A thunderstorm erupts and Neddy takes shelter in the Levys’ gazebo. The rain pours down, and Neddy asks himself why he loves storms so much.... (full context)
Time Theme Icon
After the storm, the air has cooled significantly. A blighted tree in the Levys’ yard spills red and yellow leaves, which disquiets Neddy and he “brace[s] his shoulders [and]... (full context)