Reunion

Coming from the Latin word for truth, veritas, verisimilitude is employed by realist writers who strive to bring a realness or truth to their writing. They do this through character development, setting, imagery, and other details within the story.

Cheever achieves verisimilitude through Charlie’s changing perceptions of his father. A stereotypical boy’s adoration of his father is evident immediately when Charlie “was terribly happy” to see his father and when he “hoped someone would see [them] together” (518). It is not uncommon for a young boy to idolize his father, especially one who appears to be successful in bustling New York City. As often as boys idolize their father, just as commonplace is their realization that their perfect parent is flawed. Cheever captures this succinctly when Charlie can tolerate his father’s rude and disrespectful behavior no longer and says, “Goodbye, Daddy” (520) and leaves the man standing alone at the newsstand, never to see him again.

Additionally, Cheever exudes realism in his writing when he portrays a detailed and accurate setting. Grand Central Station is a train terminal in New York City that is bustling, which Cheever captures when Charlie spots his father “coming through the crowd” (518). Furthermore, he depicts a restaurant scene that accurately depicts the milieu before the lunch rush. When Charlie and his father arrive, “it was still early, and the place was empty. The bartender was quarreling with a delivery boy” (518). This moment portrays the behind-the-scenes goings-on that most restaurant patrons do not witness. In descriptions such as these, Cheever paints a scene that is believable and real.

Cheever utilizes juxtaposition in a variety of forms to compare and contrast different elements within “Reunion.” Taking the High Ground and Expectation Versus Reality are two themes that rely on juxtaposition for their development. One juxtaposition partners the disparaging presence of Charlie’s father with the patient civility of the waiters and clerk who interact with him. The disparity in demeanor highlights the theme of taking the high ground, or acting with propriety, when faced with disrespect. Ultimately, Charlie’s exposure to this side-by-side view of his father and others is what leads him to reevaluate his own perceptions. The contrast between Charlie’s attitude toward his father in the beginning—childlike adoration—and the apathy for him at the end—when he chooses to walk away from his dad forever—reiterates just how much the boy’s initial expectations veer from the reality of his father’s character.

The comparison and contrast of characters—a form of juxtaposition—is called foil and is typically utilized to reveal more about one of the characters. In “Reunion,” the contrasting traits of Charlie’s father and the waiters work to make them foils of each other. The man’s increasingly rude and obnoxious behavior is in stark contrast to the polite mannerisms of those who serve him. This pairing illuminates the father’s need to create a scene and get what he wants at all costs. When Charlie insists that he must leave for the train, his father says, “Now, just wait a second, sonny […] Just wait a second. I want to get a rise out of this chap” (520). Instead of saying goodbye to his son, Charlie’s father prioritizes provoking the clerk. Because the latter chooses to ignore him, the father’s character flaws become glaringly obvious, revealing to Charlie his father’s true nature.