Analysis Of The Enormous Radio

Imagine living a completely normal life which suddenly deteriorates into depression, cynicism, and obsession. At the beginning of the story, “The Enormous Radio”, Irene Westcott's life is as simple as can be. She has average income, aspirations, and overall, a very typical life. Despite this, the arrival of a mysterious radio turns her life upside down and ultimately drives her into obsession and doubt about her friends, life and family. In the end, the intrusive radio negatively impacts her interpersonal relationships, encourages her to judge others and most significantly, completely destroys her emotionally. John Cheever’s “The Enormous Radio” acts as a cautionary tale in which Irene's dramatic collapse into doubt and depression warns the

Although Irene appears to be satisfied with her life, prior to the arrival of the radio, the outside lives of others, prompt her to question her personal satisfaction. After eavesdropping on the radio, Irene starts to question things, “Life is too terrible, too sordid and awful. But we've never been like that, have we, darling? Have we? I mean we've always been good and decent and loving to one another, haven't we? And we have two children, two beautiful children. Our lives aren't sordid, are they, darling? Are they?" (189) This quote proves that the trouble in other people’s lives begins to impact Irene and ultimately influences her to question her love towards her husband and the overall quality of her children. Eventually, Irene would go on to ask the demoralizing question, "We're happy, aren't we, darling?” (189) These external difficulties she’s hearing about on the radio have driven her into a state where she actually needs to question her own happiness! Clearly the radio has persuaded Irene to question the satisfaction of her own life, and ultimately, it drives her into a rocky mental