In John Cheever's "The Stories of John Cheever," a character reflects on the adult world, sensing its underlying corruption and vulnerability. She recognizes it as a fragile construct, likening it to a tattered piece of burlap that has been patched together with foolishness and errors. This imagery highlights the bleakness of adult life, where superficialities often obscure deeper flaws.

Despite its numerous shortcomings, the adults around her remain oblivious to the worthlessness of their existence. This contrast illustrates a profound disconnect between the innocence of youth and the harsh realities of maturity, where the beauty of life is overlooked amid its imperfections and failures.