Mid-Life Crisis in 'The Country Husband'

The traditional values of a “Nuclear Family” that were set up in the 1960’s are a reoccurring theme throughout “The Country Husband” by John Cheever. Francis Weed demonstrates the strain of a domestic lifestyle, and his character communicates the chaos that pressure ensues. With changes in attitude, the struggles of a traditional suburban community, characterization of a middle-aged man who suffers with morality and the desperation for escape from reality, Francis Weeds finds himself in what would be identified as a “mid-life crisis.” In the short story, Francis portrays reckless behavior due to the adolescent yearnings. He wants to pursue an unattainable affair with the engaged babysitter that his wife hires. With his codependent characteristics, Francis is unable to escape his reality. When Julia, his wife, threatens to leave him due to his uncaring demeanor he persuades her to stay because he realizes that he is hopeless without her and he simply

“Francis says that he must be understood; he was nearly killed in an airplane crash…” (Cheever 76). After this tragic event he wants a reaction from his family, which they are not giving him the sympathy that he wants. “The photograph of his four children laughing into the camera on the beach at Gay Head reproached him” (82). Looking back on how his life is, it is easy to infer that Francis is unhappy with his life after the airplane crash. The even helps him realize what he desires in life. He knows he has a pleasant family and a caring wife but yet; he yearns for something more. Cheever uses stereotypical characterization of suburban communities in all of his writings including “The Country Husband”. “… a writer who wrote about people on the Upper East Side and in the suburbs” (Gordon 1). Based on the journals of Cheever, the common similarities in his characters, settings, and