John Cheever's cynical ruminations on man's loss of humanity in the modern world are artfully articulated in his short story "The Five Forty-Eights" (Kennedy, 316). A brief memory of an average man's escape from an abandoned and apparently psychotic ex-lover in New York to the suburbs allows Cheever to rebuke the indifference, disdain, and lack of compassion that he believes has infected the company. The story's conclusion offers no definitive resolution to this hostility syndrome, which may highlight the author's thematic position that our culture's dissolute attitude toward respect for dignity and values human. To convey this pessimistic message, Cheever shapes and reveals the nature of two characters whose conflict is representative of man's greatest denigration. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The main characters, Mr. Blake and Miss Dent, represent the clash between society's callous, sardonic predilection and its opposition to the faltering society. traces of respectful kindness left in men. To achieve this via characterization, Blake – whose name, not coincidentally, sounds like "dark" – is categorized as a self-described "insignificant man" who subscribes to the "sumptuary laws" of fashion, making him " indifferent in every way…like the rest of us.” Such ambiguities give Blake's character and actions a more universal application, which helps the author critique society as a whole. Such elucidated behaviors and ideas include his habit of never "turning and looking" at others, "stepping around an old friend or classmate", and prejudging people as "rich, poor, brilliant, or boring". without ever communicating with them. But what is more serious is his estrangement from his wife and son, which he describes as “human nature”. Finally, his high regard for her memory is betrayed three times, as he cannot remember Dent's name despite their sexual past, the misplacement of a coffee ring moments after its purchase, and his complete inability to remember. memory of his innocent childhood. Such ideas reveal a character emotionally separated from all people, even his immediate family. Furthermore, it is clear that Blake does not consider the value of interacting with others beyond a quick assessment of wealth and position. Blake's relationship with Dent illustrates his devaluation of human contact. He suspects Dent of having committed violence against him and runs away from her. Although we learn that his suspicions were correct, they began simply as gross paranoia and rejection; It may very well be that Dent only follows him to exchange brief conversations, or not follows him at all. Blake's escape highlights his fear and distaste for communication. His shock that she was "the first of thousands [he had seen] cry" shows the reader the extent of Blake's emotional isolation - without extreme detachment, how could one avoid see crying in a city as big as New York. “It is only after Blake begins to ponder Dent's fate that he feels "the full force of regret", and only after he is nearly executed by Dent does he display emotion and cry. However, after Dent leaves, he seems to recover without having learned the lessons of this experience – he appears as detached and uncaring as ever. Cheever here deplores our society's refusal to recognize his emotional and virtuous deficiencies by proving that even after being savagely threatened; 317-325.