The Death of Justina, by JOHN CLEEVER

Page 545.

“I stand, figuratively, with one wet foot on Plymouth Rock, looking with some delicacy, not into a formidable and challenging wilderness but onto a half-finished civilization embracing glass towers, oil derricks, suburban continents and abandoned movie houses and wondering why, in this most prosperous, equitable and accomplished world-where even the cleaning women practice Chopin preludes in their spare time-everyone should seem to be so disappointed.”

John Cleever writes about improving our lives through materialistic aids. From the time men arrived on Plymouth Rock the wilderness has been transformed into towering buildings, and suburban houses. Oil derricks and old movie houses are also symbols of the desperate work we do to improve our lives, when in the end, he observes that everyone still seems to sad and desperate. Disappointed that these materialistic efforts are bringing them little happiness in their lives. He pokes fun at the way Americans live in the most, “Prosperous, equitable and accomplished world-“ according to luxuries, and yet the overall happiness of people has not changed.


Page 548.


“ ‘I know, Moses, I know,’ he said. I understand that. But it’s just that it happened in the wrong zone and if I make an exception for you I’ll have to make an exception for everyone, and this kind of morbidity, when it gets out of hand, can be very depressing. People don’t like to live in a neighborhood where this sort of this goes on all the time.’ ”

Cleever is sardonically criticizing the suburban life. The seemingly flawless lifestyle, where people keep their abnormal traits secret, so that everyone thinks that everyone else is flawless. The death of Justina is to be kept secret because it might affect the neighbors. Ironically Moses’ boss speaks about the depressing part others would have to share, with very little recognition of Moses’ personal grief and situation. The neighborhood is made to look pristine, without something even as normal as death.