John Cheever: The Five-Forty- Eight | Analysis

John Cheever: The Five-Forty- Eight | Analysis John Cheevers The Five-Forty- Eight explores how actions have consequences through his portrayal of the character Blake. Blake is introduced in the story as a heartless, selfish, and immoral man who is the victim of a stalking by an obviously upset woman. While married he has had a one night stand with Miss Dent, his secretary, and then he had her fired. He believed that Her diffidence, the feeling of deprivation in her point of view, promised to protect him from consequences (Cheever 319). Unfortunately for him, Miss Dent is mentally impaired. Therefore, she seeks revenge by stalking him and then holding him at gun-point on a train near his home. Through the character Blake, Cheever uses irony, imagery, and flashbacks to stage this story in order to demonstrate that actions have consequences, but not all who experience aftermath, even negative aftermath, change from it. Blake, like a predator, seeks out weak women to quench his sexual appetite, and he has no emotional attachment to any of them. The story shows that he observed Miss Dent for awhile before he decided to use her being lonely to his benefit. Harold Blooms summary of the story puts it well; Bloom states that He is interested in his secretary because of the power that he has over her, because she imagines his life as full of friendships, money, and a large and loving family and herself has a peculiar feeling of deprivation. He has gotten used to this scandalous life style because Miss Dent is not the first woman to be seduced by him: Most of the many women he had known had been picked for their lack of self-esteem.(Cheever 319) It is not surprising that he commits adultery because he does not value his marriage and does not care how it will affect his wife. Through Cheevers use of flashbacks, scenes from a characters past that identify who the character used to be or some significant background information about that character that explains why the character is presently, a reader can see who Blake really is. He reveals Blakes relationship with his wife through Blakes flashbacks. In this flashback, Blake is married to Louise Blake for possibly 8-10 years. Also, the reader is introduced to Mrs. Compton, Louises neighbor and confidant, whom Louise Blake would go to whenever she was troubled by her husbands quarrelling. Apparently, he has decided not to speak to her for two weeks because she did not fix him supper one night. Although she cries and pleads for forgiveness, her tears do not penetrate his concrete heart. Now that she is old, it seems as if the only thing that attracted him was her physical beauty. He has lost the love she believes he might have had for her at first. A close, tearful, and broken heart is not important to Blake. Through flashbacks like the one just mentioned, the reader observes that Blake has not changed because his wifes tears are not the only ones he has caused. A previous flashback lets the reader know that after the one night stand Blake had with Miss Dent, she was weeping. He felt too contented and warm and sleepy to worry much about her tears (Cheever 319). Despite Miss Dents crying, probably because of the sense of betrayal and no future with her lover, Blake remains content. He also has destroyed all possible friendships with his neighbors and people, yet he is still satisfied. Blakes unfeeling attitude is part of his non-changing, or static character. In this story, Cheever uses situational irony to show that Blakes actions have not gone unpunished. Situational irony is when the expected outcome is different than the actual outcome. He does this in a canny fashion. In the story to evade Miss Dent, Blake took the local train The Five-Forty-Eight, where he is sitting in a car alone trying to avoid speculation or remorse of Miss Dent. While sitting, he sees a piece of yellow light in the break of clouds that would normally signify freedom, a safe haven, or refuge. However, the story does not end there. Someone calls him, and it is Miss Dent. The irony is present in that he seems to have successfully evaded his stalker but apparently he hasnt and Cheever unveils just how big of a trap he is in as she sits next to him. Ironically, his neighbors are in the same train car, but they reasonably pay no attention to him but he needs their help. He is trapped with his insane stalker that clearly wants to eradicate him from the worldnot to era se him physically, but to change his soul. Despite the frenzied nature of her accusation, she is quite accurate in her judgment, if there are devils in this world, if there are people in this world who represent evil, is it our duty to exterminate them? I know that you always prey on weak people He feels nothing and she feels too much.(Bloom) Oddly, although checked by a gun, this normally unnerving situation does not faze him. To help him understand her hurt, she tells him of her damaged life after him. She begins to say how sick she has been and that she has had no job since. Then she tells him that she should kill him and her only punishment would to be readmitted into the mental hospital. She makes him read a letter that she was too sick to mail out to him while holding the pistol to his belly. Soon the train arrives at Shady Hill, his stop. Ironically, the name Shady Hill implies nothingness, and a place that readers liken to a forgotten graveyard where nothing changes. This is the place Blake comes from. Here they get off and Miss Dent forces him to the ground and after ignoring her voice for the train on the third scream, Kneel down! He got on his knees. (Cheever 325) Now it would seem that she has taught him a lesson. Examination of the text before and after his prostration reveal why Blake got down on his knees and did not escape Miss Dent in the first place. Before they exit the train in lines 30-35, Miss Dent interrupts his escape, Dont try and escape me. I have a pistol and Ill have to kill you and I dont want to. All I want to do is talk with you. Dont move or Ill kill you. Dont, dont, dont! (Cheever) Then Blakes body language shows he has entered survival mode. The only way to survive at gun point is to do what the gun holder wants you to do and that is what he did. Then after they exit the train and he prostrates himself in lines 60-end, she says, if you do what I say, I wont harm you Now, he knows he will not die if he does as she says. Then he realizes her motive I really dont want to harm you, I want to help you, but when I see your face is seems to me that I cant help you if I called to show you the right way, you wouldnt heed meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Put your face in the dirt!(Cheever) She ha d to say it twice to make him do it. In between that he had time to think of what he had to do to make her believe that he was a changed man and that her mission was accomplished. He knew that what he did next would satisfy her He stretched out on the ground, weeping. Now, I feel better, she said. When Miss Dent leaves, he fakes to get up warily at first, until he saw by her attitude, her looks, that she had forgotten him; that she had completed what she had wanted to do, and that he was safe. He got to his feet and picked up his hat from the ground where it had fallen and walked home. These actions show no remorse rather, this play that he performed so well fulfilled its purpose, self- preservation. In The Five-Forty-Eight Blake is introduced as a helpless victim of a stalking by a deranged woman. John Cheever uses informational flashbacks, situational irony, and clever imagery to show that actions have consequences. Blake has tricked and seduced his secretary, Miss Dent, whom he had fired, into having a one night stand with him, while he was married. This action along with many others shows that hurting others is no problem for him. The background information shows that he has grown a stubborn stone heart and he is a static character. Harold puts it best in his summary But then the gun is taken away, he gets up, and sees that Miss Dent is small, common, and harmless. These words, coupled with his final act, and long lifestyle of heartless selfishness and callous abuse of others shows the reader that Blake rises from the ground as the same man. (Bloom) What Is British Humour? What Is British Humour? In popular culture, British humour is a somewhat general term applied to certain types of comedy and comedic acts from the United Kingdom. Many UK comedy TV shows typical of British humour have become popular all around the world, and for good or bad, have become strong representatives of British culture to an international audience. Also, it is expressed through a lot of books, comic cartoons, and all the media. The British sense of humour is an ability to laugh at ourselves and others. It is not based on any particular belief or attempts to put any person or group down, but merely to observe some of our own odd habits and mannerisms which once highlighted in this way prove to be funny. It is unique in the sense that non-British people will not find any of it funny the first time they hear it. It is dry, it is sarcastic, and sometimes dark and macabre. Emotions are often not shown, and at first sight, most of the humour is hidden deep in the messages of the people expressing it. British humour has helped the rest of the world to understand British people, and to get to know them better, and it is one of the most recognizable elements of the British culture. What are the themes of British humour? A strong theme of sarcasm and self-deprecation, often with deadpan delivery, runs throughout British humour. Emotion is often buried under humour in a way that seems insensitive to other cultures. Jokes are told about everything and almost no subject is taboo, though often a lack of subtlety when discussing controversial issues is considered crass. Many UK comedy TV shows typical of British humour have been internationally popular, and have been an important channel for the export and representation of British culture to the international audience.  [2]   There is a variety of themes that are used to express British humour. Some of them are naturally used more, some less, but essentially, all of them form a unique type of humour. One significant element in the British sense of humour is that they dare to tell jokes about everything. No topic seems to be taboo as long some people laugh about it. A large part of British jokes is at someone elses expense. British jokes often include a sort of wordplay that is based on multiple meanings of a word. Over the last couple of decades, the best representative of British humour has been the television, and the BBC. Through many TV shows, they have portrayed the typical British men and women, their everyday life, their culture, and their sense of humour. The most used themes for British TV comedy are: Smut and innuendo with sexual explicitness and scatological themes (used a lot in British sitcoms of the 70s) Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority (through satire) The absurdity and banality of everyday life (very often, and most successful, Monty Python, The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf etc.) The embarrassment of social ineptitude (Mr. Bean comedy TV series) Making fun of foreigners is especially common in television sitcoms and films. (It can be seen in TV comedy series Allo Allo!, which mocked several national stereotypes, the British and the French.) British jokes often include a sort of wordplay that is based on multiple meanings of a word.) Macabre or dark humour, in which topics and events which are usually treated seriously are treated in a humorous manner. Humour inherent in everyday life, which is the humour, not necessarily apparent to the participants (Only Fools and Horses, The Office, The IT Crowd) British class system, where class tension between characters has been shown through comical situations ( most famous, Blackadder) Racial jokes and stereotypes ( Englishman, Scotsman and the Irishman jokes are the most popular, and also the stereotypes involving the French and the German people) Most popular TV comedy shows in Britain Monty Python First, the most important, and the most popular comedy show in Britain is certainly the Monty Python Flying Circus. Monty Python comedy group is considered to be the main pillar of British humour. The groups influence on comedy can be compared to The Beatles influence on music. The group is best known for its absurd humour that is also called pythonesque which has become a byword in surreal humour, and is included in English language dictionaries. Monty Pythons Flying Circus was comedy sketch show that combined surreal skits, deep sarcasm and dark humour. It has been called the most influential TV comedy of the post-war era  [3]  . Besides the TV series, they made movies such as the ,, Monty Python and The Holy Grail and the famous ,,Life of Brian with its song, Always look on the bright side of life. Mr Bean When it comes to embarrassment or social ineptitude, no one can beat Mr Bean. It is a television comedy starring Rowan Atkinson. The series follows the exploits of Mr. Bean, described by Atkinson as a child in a grown mans body, in solving various problems presented by everyday tasks and often causing disruption in the process. Bean rarely speaks, and the largely physical humour of the series is derived from his interactions with other people and his unusual solutions to situations.  [4]  The show has had a huge international success, and it has had a spin-off in form of an animated cartoon and a couple of films that were well-received by the audience. Only Fools and Horses This classic comedy show belongs to the category of Humour in everyday life and its characters are so called loveable rogues. These characters are people who have a lot of wrong characteristics, a lot of flaws, and yet we love them, even if sometimes we fail to see why. Del Boy and Rodney Trotter are just these types of characters. The show itself is about a family of two brothers and their grandfather, who are trying to get rich by selling cheap, contraband merchandise, that is either stolen, or low quality. They come from Peckham, and they have a strong Cockney accent, which became worldwide famous after the show.The series had an impact on English culture, contributing several words and phrases to the English language. It spawned an extensive range of merchandise, including books, DVDs, toys and board games. A spin-off series, The Green, Green Grass, ran for four series in the UK from 2005 to 2009.  [5]   Popular British jokes As said before, not a lot of people get British jokes, and not a lot of people find them funny. It is not the kind of humour that slaps you in the face, but you have to have a knowledge of a certain political, social and historical references in order to understand the humour. Also, some non-British people will not be able to understand it simply because they are not British. Others might, but they wont find it funny. Still, it has been widely accepted as one of the best types of national humour in the world, and the internet and the new TV shows are making it even more popular and accepted. Finally, here are some examples of classical British jokes, hope you will find them funny. What is the longest word in the English language? Smiles. Because there is a mile between its first and last letters! An Englishman, roused by a Scots scorn of his race, protested that he was born an Englishman and hoped to die an Englishman. Man, scoffed the Scot, hiv ye nae ambeetion (Have you no ambition)? An English man and an Irish man are driving head on , at night, on a twisty, dark road. Both are driving too fast for the conditions and collide on a sharp bend in the road. To the amazement of both, they are unscathed, though their cars are both destroyed. In celebration of their luck, both agree to put aside their dislike for the other from that moment on. At this point, the Englishman goes to the boot and fetches a 12 year old bottle of whisky. He hands the bottle to the Irish man, whom exclaims, may the Irish and the English live together forever, in peace, and harmony. The Irish man then tips the bottle and gulps half of the bottle down. Still flabbergasted over the whole thing, he goes to hand the bottle to the Englishman, whom replies: no thanks, Ill just wait till the Police get here!  [6]