This document summarizes and analyzes John Cheever's short story "The Reunion". It discusses how the story depicts the distant relationship between a father and son, with the son Charlie hoping to find a role model in his father but being disappointed by his behavior. The document also draws parallels from the author's own experiences with his grandfather and father to better understand Charlie's perspective. It analyzes how the story conveys the emotional impact of an unfit parent through Charlie's reactions and observations of his father over their short meeting.

1. Mohit Ahuja
Essay on The Reunion by John Cheever
As children, we look up to our parents as role models, and it's
important to have them in our lives to know they care. A
parent's responsibility is not only to provide food and shelter,
but also to set a good example for their child. Sadly, this isn't
always the case. Oftentimes, parents are inattentive to their
child’s needs, parents who don't set the right example for their
children. In John Cheever's story "Reunion", we see a classic
example of how a father does not play the ‘role model dad’ his
son was hoping for.
In this story's narrative, Charlie is seeing his father three years
after his mother divorced him. We instantly see what Charlie
thinks of his father: "to me he was a stranger, my flesh and
blood, my future and my destiny”.
We see that this relationship is a distant and an estranged one.
A son normally wants to look up to his father,
however, in this case Charlie sees this role model as a "doom."
As I read the first part of the story, I couldn’t help but try to put
myself in Charlie’s shoes. Growing up, I was fortunate enough
to have a family where I shared a good relationship with my
parents. However, as I lived in a joint family, I watched how my
grandfather’s job as a policeman affected his behaviour. I, then,
understood Charlie’s position. My father told me how he used to
long for more time with my grandfather, who was rarely at
home as he was a cop. My father also told me how, on most
evenings, he found my grandfather in a negative mood and how
little time he had available to spend with his family. I could see
how this most have affected my father.

2. Charlie gives us his father's initial characterization by observin
g the following: "He was a great
looking man,I smelled my father as my mother sniffs a rose. It
was a rich compound of whisky, aftershave lotion, shoe polish,
woolens, and the rank of a mature male." When they go into a
couple of restaurants, it is visible that the father has a
condescending attitude towards the waiters. He raises his voice
while trying to order his whisky and talks in various languages
to show his dominance. As humorous as it is, he orders "two
Bibson Geefeaters" while trying to belittle the waiter at one of
the restaurants. As the hour and a half went by, the actions of
Charlie's father became increasingly obnoxious. We could infer
with the information given in the exhibition that Charlie knew
he could never see his father again.
This part of the story reminds me of those nights my father told
me about, when he was a child, where he would try to stay
awake till late, just so he could see my grandfather after he
came back from work. My father said, “I remember, quite often,
seeing empty cans of beer on the table, and my father being
loud and acting ‘strange’. With time, I realized that alcohol
affects behaviour, and I was disappointed in my father”. I
sympathized with Charlie, and I could feel his disappointment.
Circling back to where the story started from, Grand Central
Station, the end of the story brings us back there. However,
unlike the beginning, this time Charlie is disappointed as he
hoped his father would be someone he could look up to and
love. Instead, he has discovered that his father is anything but
that and in the span of an hour, lost his admiration for him. As
Charlie is desperately trying to hold onto his hopeless
relationship with his father, he begins to understand, though,
that he must let it go. This story is powerful in its simplicity.
The term ' reunion' is pleasant to hear. Family reunions usually
symbolize a fun gathering, something we look forward to. In
this case, the bond between a father and son was almost tragic,

3. as we see how much Charlie looked forward to seeing his father
and then being disappointed. Although this was a short story,
John Cheever did an exceptional job of conveying incredible
imagery and emotional evocation. By using the first-person
narrative in the perception of Charlie, we as readers tend to feel
more for Charlie. For those who are parents our feelings are
some kind of rage, maybe anger at alcoholism, or just anger at
Charlie's father for being an unfit parent. It's always a shame to
see how negative the effects are on children due to the ill
choices a parent makes in life. A father should be a source of
pride, an inspiration, especially to a son.
The end of the story hit me with a force. Looking at how
disappointed Charlie was, I realized how lucky I am to have
parents that are so caring and attentive to my needs. Watching
my dad work as hard as he did, and become what he is today,
inspires me till today to work hard and achieve my goals in life.
The beautiful relationship I share with my parents has brought
me here today and will take me where I want to go.
Law and Economics Paper #3: “Business Report”
300 Points – 30% of Course Grade (Due on March 22, Sunday
of week 2 @ 11:59 PM EST)
Description
Connection(s) to SLOs
Connection(s) to SAIL
Identify and categorize concerns and issues in a variety of
economic and law related frameworks, such as Social Science
Perspectives, Consumer Reputations, Maslow’s Hierarchy of
Needs,
Archie Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility,
etc.
1, 2
I, G, C, W
Define and differentiate the various categories of Public and

4. Private laws. Align them with economic theory / concerns.
2
I, C, W
Evaluate real-world examples at the intersection of economics
and the law
1, 2
I, G, C, W
Recommend and justify, for a business or industry sector, a set
of potential options which
specifically explores the background of a scenario, evaluates
economic concerns, and explores legal considerations /
ramifications.
1, 2, 5
I, C, P, W
This assignment asks you to write a business report (paper) for
a real or hypothetical company in the Romaine lettuce industry
that provides a discussion of the background and discussions
pertaining to economics and the law. Further, you are to
evaluate the economic and legal pros and cons regarding a
solution, justifying your recommendation.
Paper Required Elements:
A. COVER PAGE (APA Formatted)
B. BACKGROUND / CONCERN (1-2 pages)
1. Brief description of concern with the Romaine Lettuce events
of the past few years
2. Summary of relevant Consumer Reputation concerns
3. Summary of the relevant Social Science Perspectives
4. Summary of the relevant Hierarchy of Needs levels
5. Summary of the Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility
levels
C. ECONOMIC DISCUSSION (1-2 pages)
1. Include a simple Supply and Demand curve to explain the
impact(s) from the events.
2. How might this impact the affected companies?
3. The products’ sale prices?

5. 4. How might this impact other companies/sources?
5. What (if anything) else can be concluded?
D. LEGAL DISCUSSION (1-2 pages)
1. Relevant Public Law discussion
a. Real Connections from multiple categories
b. Briefly cite and summarize an existing case or two (from any
category)
2. Relevant Private Law discussion
a. Real Connections from multiple categories
b. Briefly cite and summarize an existing case or two (from any
category)
E. CONSULTATION (1-2 pages)
1. Should the company invest $10 Million dollars in new tools
(technology, testing, training, etc.) to prevent future outbreaks
and recalls?
a. Economic pros and cons for BOTH options (“YES” – or
“NO”)
b. Legal pros and cons for BOTH options (“YES” – or “NO”)
2. Your recommendation: “YES” – or “NO” (and justification)
F. WORKS CITED (APA formatted)
Format:
· Format: Typed paper, submitted electronically.
· Length: Will vary, 8 to 10 pages of prose is typical
· Formatting: Students must use APA format. Your paper must
include a cover page.
· In-Text Citations: Simply use the following format of
parentheses / last name (of author) / comma / date (published) /
parentheses – (Smith, 2012). Please use APA support material
for citationsand bibliography.
· Bibliography: The paper requires that you enlist both primary
and secondary outside sources. Your paper must include a full
bibliography (APA formatted) with a suggested range of 10 to
15 entries.
All assignments (beyond Discussion Board Participation) will

6. be graded using the following rubric:
GRADING RUBRIC: Written Communication
Criteria
EXCEEDING STANDARDS
100%
MEETING STANDARDS
80%
APPROACHING STANDARDS
50%
BELOW STANDARD
25%
CONTEXT
Weight 20%
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of context, audience,
and purpose that is responsive to the assigned task(s) and
focuses all elements of the work.
Demonstrates adequate consideration of context, audience, and
purpose and a clear focus on the assigned task(s) (e.g., the task
aligns with audience, purpose, and context).
Demonstrates awareness of context, audience, purpose, and to
the assigned tasks(s) (e.g., begins to show awareness of
audience's perceptions and assumptions).
Demonstrates minimal attention to context, audience, purpose,
and to the assigned tasks(s) (e.g., expectation of instructor or
self as audience).
CONTENT
Weight 20%
Uses appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to illustrate
mastery of the subject, conveying the writer's understanding,
and shaping the whole work.

7. Uses appropriate, relevant, and compelling content to explore
ideas within the context of the discipline and shape the whole
work.
Uses appropriate and relevant content to develop and explore
ideas through most of the work.
Uses appropriate and relevant content to develop simple ideas in
some parts of the work.
CONVENTIONS
Weight 20%
Demonstrates detailed attention to and successful execution of a
wide range of conventions particular to a specific discipline
and/or writing task
(s) including defining terms, organization, content,
presentation,
formatting, and stylistic choices
Demonstrates consistent use of important conventions particular
to a specific discipline and/or writing task(s), including
defining terms, organization, content, presentation, and stylistic
choices
Follows expectations appropriate to a specific discipline and/or
writing task(s) for basic organization, content, and presentation.
Attempts to use a consistent system for basic organization and
presentation.
SOURCES
Weight 20%

8. Demonstrates skillful use of high- quality, credible, relevant
sources to develop ideas that are appropriate for the discipline
and genre of the writing
Demonstrates consistent use of credible, relevant sources to
support ideas that are situated within the discipline and genre of
the writing.
Demonstrates an attempt to use credible and/or relevant sources
to support ideas that are appropriate for the discipline and genre
of the writing.
Demonstrates an attempt to use sources to support ideas in the
writing.
MECHANICS
Weight 20%
Uses graceful language that skillfully communicates meaning to
readers with clarity and fluency and is virtually error free.
Uses straightforward language that generally conveys meaning
to readers.
The language in the portfolio has few errors.
Uses language that generally conveys meaning to readers with
clarity, although writing may include some errors.
Uses language that sometimes impedes meaning because of
errors in usage.