Janus/The Swimmer

In “Janus,” what is the symbolic meaning of the bowl?                           

            I believe that the main thing the bowl symbolizes in “Janus” is the memory of the affair that Andrea had.  I believe that it symbolizes an affair because it said that Andrea wanted to talk to her husband about it, but she kept it “such a constant secret” (89).  It seemed as if it were something she were hiding from her husband and something she could not possibly tell him about.  I believe it symbolizes her affair because when she left the bowl behind by accident once, it said that “she felt like rushing past the frowning woman and seizing her bowl” (88); I think that symbolizes her affair because it almost made it appear as if she were jealous that another woman was handling her “bowl.”  I also was led to believe the bowl symbolizes Andrea’s affair because it said that it was “only handled by her, set safely on one surface or another” (90); I thought that symbolized the affair because affairs are typically “handled with care” because they do not want others to find out what is happening because it could mess up many aspects of their lives.  It seemed as if the bowl was something that comforted Andrea because it constantly reminded her of her affair with her past lover.  I ultimately believe that Andrea is still truly in love with her past lover and the memory of him, therefore she holds onto this bowl that he bought her because it reminds her of their love; a love that was “perfect” (90).

In “The Swimmer,” what is the symbolic meaning of Ned’s journey?

            Ned’s journey in “The Swimmer” through his county and the pools in his county symbolizes his life.  In the beginning when he was with his wife at the Westerhazys’ pool he had the impression of “one of youth” because he was full of energy and sport and the weather was “clement.”  It was here that he took on the challenge to swim all the way home.  He swims through the Grahams’ and Hammers’ pool with no problem at all, and still looking forward to continuing his journey.  He swam through the Bunkers’ pool without a problem, but he heard thunder, which could symbolize something getting ready to change in his life.  After he swam through the Levys’ pool he felt somewhat tired, but still pleased.  Although he felt “pleased with everything” at that moment, it stormed.  It said that he had some excitement towards storms, which could symbolize his excitement or anxiety for changes that occurred in his life.  He noticed that there was a “sign of autumn” and he became sad; this symbolizes his life going by.  When he found the Wlechers’ pool dry he was “disappointed and mystified” which could symbolize a certain event in his life.  Although he was feeling somewhat down, he heard a tennis game which cheered him probably because it reminded him of the memory of his children.  At the Recreation Center he saw things as loud and harsh, which could symbolize the hardships of his life becoming worse or growing.  At the Hallorans’ him not acknowledging what Mrs. Halloran was talking to him about symbolizes the denial that he was living in.  Also at the Hallorans’ he was cold, tired, depressed, and lost his strength; all of this symbolizes how he felt about his misfortunes that he was in denial of.  At this time in his journey it was autumn, symbolizing even more of his life passing by.  At the Sachses’ pool he felt as if “he had no freedom of choice about his means of travel,” symbolizing that he felt as if he could not help the events that were truly occurring in his life.  He also came close to drowning at their pool, which symbolizes that he almost gave into the struggles of his life by giving up.  It was at the Biswangers’ pool that he noticed a “wintry gleam,” which revealed that he was aging and time was going by much faster than he realized.  The next pool, Shirley Adams’, holds a significant amount of importance to the story; this pool symbolizes his affair that he had, which could reveal why he sold his house or why he did not have his kids.  Through the next few pools, the Gilmartins’ and Clydes’, he was constantly losing strength and did not even feel the urge to celebrate that he was almost done with his journey.  These pools symbolize how his life had changed for the worse because of the actions of his affair.  He finally approached his house, the end of his journey, but it was empty and dark.  This ultimately symbolizes how long he had been away and also the end of a life.  “The Swimmer” contains strong symbolization to show the journey of Ned’s life.  He started out his journey as determined and full of energy, but by the end much time had passed and many things had changed making him feel very weak and also aged.