Hi can you please help me with John Cheever's Enormous Radio.

I'm having trouble understanding what it was in the story that helped create our national identity of the time (1947)
is it the new radio that Jim bought his wife?
please help me.

I think Cheever meant that since the radio came into our lives, people knew more than they ever wanted to know about other people and world events. We had gone from a small community of acquaintances and neighbors to world-wide influences. Obviously, Cheever saw that as very disruptive to normal family life.

And can you imagine what Cheever would think about network television, cable television, and the Internet??

Wow!

Certainly! I'd be happy to help you understand how John Cheever's "The Enormous Radio" reflects the national identity in 1947.

In the story, the Enormous Radio serves as a symbol that reflects several aspects of American society during that time. The Enormous Radio is a new and advanced piece of technology that represents the shift towards consumerism and the increasing prevalence of mass media in American households. The radio becomes a source of fascination for the characters, Jim and Irene Westcott, as it allows them to listen to a wide range of radio programs, including intimate conversations and private moments of their neighbors.

One way the story reflects the national identity of the time is through its exploration of the illusion of the American Dream. Jim and Irene view their newly acquired radio as a status symbol, indicating their affluence and social standing. They see it as a means to be connected to the larger world and be part of the modern, sophisticated society. This reflects the prevailing belief in post-war America that consumption and material possessions were indicators of success and happiness.

However, as the story progresses, the radio begins to reveal the dark underbelly of their seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood. Jim and Irene start eavesdropping on their neighbors' private conversations, exposing the secrets, conflicts, and marital problems that exist behind closed doors. The radio acts as a metaphorical "window" into the lives of others, suggesting that beneath the surface of middle-class suburban life, there were hidden tensions and dissatisfaction.

Moreover, the Enormous Radio highlights the theme of conformity and the pressure to maintain a facade of normalcy. The Westcotts' desire to fit in and be perceived as "perfect" and "normal" is shattered when they realize that their neighbors, whom they admired and saw as the epitome of the American Dream, have their own share of secrets and flaws. This challenges the idealized image of post-war America and exposes the cracks in the facade of societal expectations.

In summary, while the Enormous Radio itself is not the sole factor that creates the national identity of 1947 in the story, it represents the intersection of consumerism, the illusion of the American Dream, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. By exploring the cracks beneath the surface of suburban life, Cheever offers a critique of the post-war American society and reflects the anxieties and complexities of that time period.