John Cheever’s “The Enormous Radio” can be seen as gothic because of how the radio has supernatural elements incorporated into it, The story starts off with Jim and Irene Wescott both living comfortably in their home in Manhattan with their two kids. As the radio breaks down, they decide to buy a new one. The radio was purchased to provide entertainment for the Westcotts, but they soon discovered that they could hear all of their neighbors’ conversations. Irene becomes so fixated on listening in on her neighbor’s conversations that she loses sight of her own problems. This can be seen as another gothic element called “emotional distress” because of how she starts to become depressed compared to how lighthearted she was at the beginning of the story. Jim then informs her that he has just paid the $400 bill for the radio. He claims that the radio is likely to be the family’s final indulgence for the year, as things at work are slowing down. He expresses financial concern and chastises Irene for failing to pay her clothing bills. Irene urges Jim to lower his voice when he raises his because she is concerned that they will be overheard on the radio. Jim becomes enraged and begins yelling at Irene about her previous transgressions, which include stealing jewelry from her mother, refusing to help her sister, and having an abortion. This made Irene turn on the radio for comfort, only to hear the news playing.
Although John Cheever’s “The Enormous Radio” does include some gothic elements, it can also not be seen as one due to how the story doesn’t feature a dark and gritty setting and atmosphere like most gothic literature as the story starts off in a joyful setting with both of them living in a building. It also lacks common gothic elements like showing nightmares, curses, mystery, or paranormal activity.
