5:48 Be ye therefore perfect

John Cheever’s story all tend to follow a two central themes: guilt and redemption, themes that are generally taken from the bible. In the book of Matthew, 5:48 says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven perfect.” Though this does not necessarily seem to pertain to Cheever’s “Five-Forty-Eight,” it can be used as a contrast to the central character, Blake, and the morals he represents.

The story seems to be set up as trial. There’s the defendant, Blake, the prosecution, Ms. Dent, and the judge or jury, whose positions can be interpreted in many in many different ways. The defendant, Blake, originally captures the readers sympathy as a defendant would attempt to appeal to the judge or jury. The reader feels for this poor man, hunted and stalked by this unrelenting prosecuter. But as soon as the word “guilt” (1) is mentioned, the reader realizes that Blake might not be as innocent as he appears. After that, he experiences a mind set reminiscent of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” his own fear creating meanings and intents in everything, his own guilt revealing his emotions in a way that this normally “normal” man would never normally do, saying the water down his neck, “felt unpleasantly like the cold sweat of fear” (3).

As the story progresses, Blake’s true character and the nature of his guilt are revealed to the reader. The history between Blake and Ms. Dent is told, and Blake’s intentions to use her to satisfy his cravings, show that Blake is not them man the reader thought he was. This becomes utterly clear to the reader when it is said, “The next day, he did what he felt was the only sensible thing. When she was out for lunch, he called personnel and asked them to fire her” (9). The fact that the “sensible” thing, in Blake’s mind, was to go behind her back and ask someone else to fire her, shows a serious character flaw. Suddenly, the prosecution seems to be in the right.

The reader also more sympathy for Blake when his history with his neighbors is shown, especially with Mr. Watkins. He feels contempt for Mr. Watkins just because he rents, or the way he dresses. He says, “Mr. Watkins’ long and dirty hair and his corduroy jacket reassured Blake that he had been in the right” (14), as if one’s clothing was what decided right and wrong in the world. This is further demonstrated in his marriage life. He says of his wife, “The physical charms that had been her only attraction were gone.” Blake has descended to a new level of shallowness, to the point that now he won’t even talk to his wife because he no longer feels attracted to her.

Now that Blake’s guilt is no longer in question, the question of redemption must be addressed. According to the bible, no man os beyond redemption. The second half of the story, with Blake’s encounter with Ms. Dent, has an almost angelic, supernatural feeling to it. Ms. Dent talks of devils, saying, “if there are devils in this world…is it our duty to exterminate them?” (51) Ms. Dent seems to be in dilemma. She at once feels it is her duty to exterminate the “devil” Blake, but at the same time she doesn’t really want to do so. She says “I ought to feel sorry for you” (60) as if he might be worthy of some redemption, and she claims to want to give him redemption, but at the same time believes he is incapable of obtaining it. “I want to help, but when I see your face it sometimes seems to me that I can’t help you” (62). She forces him to humble himself, burying his face in the dirt and mud, dirtying his suit of the “sumptuary laws.” She then says, “Now I can wash my hands of you” (62). This provides a startling contrast between the now-dirty Blake, and the now-clean Ms. Dent, the roles switched from what they were in the beginning. However, after this, Blake is unemotional, and displays no change in his demeanor.

Cheever’s ambiguous ending makes it difficult to see if Blake was redeemed in any way. His manner, dismissive and uncaring, is the same as the very beginning of the story, only now he has the stain of guilt and sin upon his soul. He is a devil, in that he doesn’t even think of what he does as “wrong,” but merely as “sensible” and “natural.” How can a man such as this, a man of such vicious nature, ever hope to achieve redemption? (782)