In John Cheever's "Tales," a character displays a meticulous approach to household chores, suggesting a deep-seated desire for redemption or atonement. This fervent attention to scrubbing and ironing implies that the individual is seeking to rectify some past wrongs, although it remains unclear what those wrongs might be. The intensity with which they carry out these tasks hints at an inner turmoil that drives their actions, leading readers to question the...