Thick With Theme - The 548

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Thick with theme “The 548” by John Cheever Mr. Blake is a man with many secrets and few meaningful relationships. Blake loves the feeling of control, so much so that he manipulates his own mind into believing things that make his role in life seem loftier. Blake lacks the ability to empathize which leaves him open to taking advantage of other people’s weaknesses. Miss Dent is mentally unstable and therefore a perfect target for Blake’s misdirected unhappiness and self-loathing. Blake represents evil in “The 548”. He is a controlling man living a life full of deceit. Miss Dent role in the story is purely to represent revenge. Control, deceit and Revenge are the major themes of “The 548”. Blake likes to believe that he is in control of every situation, almost like he is the puppet master of his own life. He treats his wife horribly and he frequently punishes her as if she were his child. He once did not talk to her for 2 weeks because she didn’t have dinner ready when he got home from work. He built a book case to barricade himself in his room so that he & his wife would live separately in the same room. He thrives on the sense of power his controlling ways gives him. With Miss Dent he always had the upper hand in the relationship because he was her boss and he hired and fired her. When she comes after him to teach him a lesson, their roles are reversed and Miss Dent takes the control away from him. In order for Blake to feel in control of his life he often makes himself believe things that are not true in an effort to feel more important. Blake lies to his wife if not directly then by omission. Although not said in the story, it is implied that Blake has had many extra-marital affairs. We do know that he had an affair with Miss Dent. Blake’s deceit continues when he makes up the reason that he needs to have Miss Dent fired. Blake is
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