“The Wapshot Chronicle” by John Cheever is a literary masterpiece that blends humor and tragedy to depict the lives of the eccentric Wapshot family. The novel employs various literary devices such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to explore themes of family, tradition, and modernity. With its witty dialogue and vivid descriptions, “The Wapshot Chronicle” offers a captivating glimpse into the complexities of human relationships and the struggle for self-discovery.
Family Dynamics: The novel explores the complex relationships between family members and the impact of tradition on the family unit. The Wapshot family struggles to navigate the tensions between the old world and the new, as they grapple with issues of identity, loyalty, and responsibility.
Self-Discovery: Characters in the novel confront their inner conflicts and struggle to find meaning in their lives. The narrative highlights the importance of self-awareness and the pursuit of personal growth.
Social Status: The novel also addresses the theme of social status and the influence it has on the characters’ lives. The Wapshots, despite their respectable background, find themselves struggling to maintain their position in society.
Sexuality and Gender: Cheever also explores the complexities of sexuality and gender roles in the novel. Characters grapple with their sexual identities and confront societal expectations of gender norms.
Modernization and Tradition: The novel depicts the clash between tradition and modernity, as the characters attempt to reconcile their past with their present. The Wapshots struggle to adapt to the changing times and to find their place in a rapidly evolving world.
Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽
Foreshadowing: The author uses foreshadowing to hint at future events, creating tension and suspense throughout the narrative. For example, the introduction of the character of Moses Foote foreshadows the tragedy that befalls the Wapshot family.
Symbolism: Cheever employs symbolism to convey deeper meanings and emotions. The recurring image of the sea, for instance, represents the characters’ desire for escape and freedom.
Irony: The novel employs irony to highlight the absurdity of human behavior and to challenge readers’ assumptions. For example, the character of Honora is presented as a paragon of respectability, but her actions reveal her to be anything but.
Imagery: The author uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the characters and their surroundings. The description of the Wapshot home, for instance, conveys a sense of decay and neglect.
Flashback: Flashbacks are used to provide context and backstory, shedding light on the characters’ motivations and past experiences. The narrative of the family’s history, as recounted by the family patriarch Leander Wapshot, is an example of a flashback.
Satire: The novel employs satire to criticize societal norms and values. The depiction of the town of St. Botolphs, with its rigid social hierarchy and suffocating conformity, is an example of satire.
Allusion: Cheever uses allusion to reference other literary works, adding depth and meaning to his own writing. The references to the works of Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne, for example, highlight the themes of the novel.
Metaphor: The author uses metaphor to draw comparisons between seemingly dissimilar things, creating new perspectives and insights. The comparison of the Wapshot family to a ship adrift at sea, for example, highlights their sense of disorientation and confusion.
Personification: The novel uses personification to imbue inanimate objects with human qualities, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the characters. The personification of the sea as a character with its own desires and motivations is an example of this literary device.
Juxtaposition: The author uses juxtaposition to create contrast and highlight the differences between characters and settings. The contrast between the provincial town of St. Botolphs and the bustling city of New York, for example, underscores the tension between tradition and modernity in the novel.
Examples of Literary Devices 📋
Foreshadowing
Example
Explanation
The introduction of Moses Foote
The character of Moses Foote is first introduced as a mysterious and slightly sinister figure who offers to take the Wapshots on a fishing trip. This foreshadows the tragic events that befall the family on their trip, as well as Moses’ later betrayal of the family.
The mention of the “Wapshot curse”
The recurring reference to the “Wapshot curse” foreshadows the family’s eventual downfall and suggests that the family is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
The discussion of Leander’s health issues
Throughout the novel, Leander’s failing health is a source of concern for the family. This foreshadows his eventual death and suggests that the family will struggle to cope with the loss.
Symbolism
Example
Explanation
The sea
The sea is a recurring symbol in the novel, representing the characters’ desire for escape and freedom. For example, when Coverly Wapshot considers leaving St. Botolphs for New York, he muses that he would like to “swim away like a porpoise.”
The family home
The Wapshot family home is a symbol of the family’s decay and neglect. The house is described as “a great fatigued old lady” who has “lost all hope of elegance.”
The Wapshot curse
The “Wapshot curse” is a symbol of the family’s tragic fate and their inability to escape the mistakes of the past. The curse is mentioned repeatedly throughout the novel, serving as a reminder of the family’s doomed legacy.
Irony
Example
Explanation
Honora’s affair with Moses Foote
Honora is presented as a paragon of respectability, but her affair with Moses Foote reveals her to be anything but. This irony underscores the gap between appearances and reality in the novel.
The Wapshots’ attempts to maintain their social status
Despite their respectable background, the Wapshots find themselves struggling to maintain their position in society. This ironic situation highlights the arbitrary and capricious nature of social status.
The town’s obsession with conformity
The town of St. Botolphs is depicted as a suffocating and conformist community, where deviation from the norm is met with suspicion and hostility. This irony underscores the tension between individuality and conformity in the novel.
Imagery
Example
Explanation
The description of the Wapshot home
The Wapshot family home is described in vivid detail, conveying a sense of decay and neglect. The imagery of the house as a “great fatigued old lady” underscores the family’s sense of dislocation and disorientation.
The description of Moses Foote
Moses Foote is described in vivid and unsettling detail, creating a sense of unease and tension. The imagery of Foote as a “one-eyed, one-armed, one-legged man” highlights his sense of otherness and sets him apart from the other characters.
The description of the New York City skyline
The skyline of New York City is described in vivid and breathtaking detail, creating a sense of awe and wonder. The imagery of the city as a “miracle of steel and concrete” highlights the contrast between the bustling metropolis and the provincial town of St. Botolphs.
Flashback
Example
Explanation
Leander’s story of the Wapshot family history
Leander’s extended flashback of the family’s history serves as a way of contextualizing the present-day events of the novel. It sheds light on the characters’ motivations and past experiences, giving readers a deeper understanding of the family’s dynamics.
Flashbacks to the family’s time in Europe
Throughout the novel, there are brief flashbacks to the Wapshot family’s time in Europe, highlighting the family’s sense of adventure and desire for new experiences. These flashbacks serve to underscore the contrast between the family’s past and present.
Leander’s recollection of his wife’s death is a poignant and emotional flashback that reveals the depth of his grief and his struggle to cope with the loss. This flashback serves to humanize Leander and make him a more sympathetic character.
Satire
Example
Explanation
The depiction of St. Botolphs
The town of St. Botolphs is a satirical caricature of small-town America, with its rigid social hierarchy and suffocating conformity. The satire highlights the absurdity of societal norms and expectations.
The portrayal of Honora Wapshot
Honora is presented as a satirical commentary on the cult of domesticity, with her obsessive focus on domestic tasks and her belief in traditional gender roles. The satire of Honora’s character underscores the absurdity of gender norms and expectations.
The portrayal of the literary world
The literary world depicted in the novel is a satirical caricature of the publishing industry, with its fawning critics, petty rivalries, and superficial values. The satire of the literary world highlights the absurdity of cultural institutions and the role of art in society.
The novel contains several references to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, highlighting the themes of obsession, madness, and the search for meaning. The allusions to Moby Dick serve to deepen the meaning of the novel and create a sense of literary continuity.
The references to Nathaniel Hawthorne
The novel contains several references to the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, particularly The Scarlet Letter. These references underscore the themes of sin, guilt, and redemption in the novel, and create a sense of literary tradition.
The references to Shakespeare
The novel contains several references to the works of Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet. These references serve to highlight the themes of betrayal, madness, and the struggle for identity, and create a sense of literary resonance.
Metaphor
Example
Explanation
The Wapshot family as a ship adrift at sea
The Wapshot family is frequently compared to a ship adrift at sea, highlighting their sense of disorientation and confusion. The metaphor underscores the family’s struggle to find their place in the world and to maintain their sense of identity.
The sea is a recurring metaphor in the novel, representing the characters’ desire for escape and freedom. The metaphor of the sea underscores the tension between tradition and modernity in the novel, as well as the characters’ struggle for self-discovery.
The town of St. Botolphs as a metaphor for confinement
The town of St. Botolphs is frequently described as a stifling and suffocating community, creating a sense of confinement and limitation.
Personification
Example
Explanation
The sea as a character
The sea is personified throughout the novel, imbuing the natural world with human qualities. The sea is described as a character with its own desires and motivations, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the characters.
The Wapshot family home as a character
The Wapshot family home is personified as an aging and decrepit character, reflecting the family’s own sense of decay and disorientation. The personification of the house creates a sense of intimacy and emotional resonance.
The town of St. Botolphs as a character
The town of St. Botolphs is personified as a stifling and oppressive character, reflecting the town’s own sense of conformity and limitation. The personification of the town underscores the novel’s themes of tradition, modernity, and individuality.
Juxtaposition
Example
Explanation
The contrast between St. Botolphs and New York City
The contrast between the provincial town of St. Botolphs and the bustling metropolis of New York City highlights the tension between tradition and modernity in the novel. The juxtaposition of the two settings underscores the characters’ struggle to adapt to a changing world.
The contrast between the affable and charming Coverly and the mysterious and unsettling Moses Foote highlights the tension between appearances and reality in the novel. The juxtaposition of the two characters underscores the novel’s themes of identity, desire, and betrayal.
The contrast between the Wapshot family’s past and present
The novel frequently juxtaposes the Wapshot family’s past and present, highlighting the contrast between their youthful ambitions and their present-day disillusionment. The juxtaposition of the past and present underscores the novel’s themes of self-discovery, tradition, and modernity.
FAQs 💭
What is foreshadowing and how is it used in the novel?
Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author hints at future events in a narrative. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” foreshadowing is used to create tension and suspense, as well as to deepen the meaning of the novel. For example, the introduction of Moses Foote foreshadows the tragic events that befall the Wapshot family on their fishing trip.
What is the significance of the sea as a symbol in the novel?
The sea is a recurring symbol in the novel, representing the characters’ desire for escape and freedom. The symbol of the sea underscores the tension between tradition and modernity in the novel, as well as the characters’ struggle for self-discovery.
What is the role of irony in the novel?
Irony is a literary device in which the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of its literal meaning. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” irony is used to challenge readers’ assumptions and to highlight the absurdity of human behavior. For example, the character of Honora is presented as a paragon of respectability, but her actions reveal her to be anything but.
What is imagery and how is it used in the novel?
Imagery is a literary device in which an author uses descriptive language to create vivid and sensory images in the reader’s mind. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” imagery is used to paint a picture of the characters and their surroundings. For example, the description of the Wapshot family home conveys a sense of decay and neglect.
What is the significance of the flashbacks in the novel?
Flashbacks are a literary device in which an author interrupts the chronological order of a narrative to provide context and backstory. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” flashbacks are used to shed light on the characters’ motivations and past experiences. For example, Leander’s extended flashback of the family’s history serves as a way of contextualizing the present-day events of the novel.
What is satire and how is it used in the novel?
Satire is a literary device in which an author uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize societal norms and values. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” satire is used to highlight the absurdity of cultural institutions and the role of art in society. For example, the depiction of the literary world as a satirical caricature of the publishing industry critiques the superficial values of the industry.
What is allusion and how is it used in the novel?
Allusion is a literary device in which an author references another literary work, historical event, or cultural artifact. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” allusion is used to deepen the meaning of the novel and to create a sense of literary tradition. For example, the references to Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne highlight the themes of the novel.
What is the role of metaphor in the novel?
Metaphor is a literary device in which an author draws comparisons between two dissimilar things. In “The Wapshot Chronicle,” metaphor is used to create new perspectives and insights into the characters and their surroundings. For example, the comparison of the Wapshot family to a ship adrift at sea highlights their sense of disorientation and confusion.
