Re: Raise High.. long, on-topic

Mattis Fishman (mattis@argos.argoscomp.com)
Mon, 06 Apr 1998 12:30:25 -0400 (EDT) 

Hello,

    I also have to say that "Raise High..." is a story that I wish I knew by
heart, or even more, that upon the mention of Seymour and Muriel I would
be able to reconstruct. That I could understand how the image I have of
these characters, coupled with my assimilation of Salinger's point of
view would lead inevitably to each exact word of this masterpiece.

    I notice that most, if not all, of the posts so far have commented on
the quality of the work as a story, in other words, they have been taking
the writer's perspective. But belonging as I do to the other camp,
I think the content of the story deserves some attention, too.

    First, I would like to consider the story in relation to "A Perfect Day..."
What would we think of the scenario, Seymour's disappearance, the revelation
of the depth of his love for Muriel and his happiness, his eventual
marriage, if we did not already know what happens in the final chapter,
so to speak. Is there anyone who actually read RHTRBC before APDFBF? 
>From the other direction, would anyone have considered Seymour as the
holy man he is finally labeled from just reading APDFBF, without this story?

    I have a few thoughts on these things myself, but I think there is room
in our fabled and elusive file of Infrequently Asked Questions for some
of the above.

    RHTRBC seems to be the beginning of Seymour's rehabilitation from
overly, fatally, sensitive suicide to blue striped unicorn, and genuine
holy man. I believe the chronology will support this, as from what I gather
from Mr. Foskett's web page, this appears to be the first work
concerning Seymour published after APDFBF.

    The flow of the two works seems parallel. The matron of honor's diatribe
has all the charm and sensitivity of Mrs. Fedder's telephone conversation,
but this time we have a sympathetic and confessed ally of Seymour's giving
us the blow by blow. Instead of watching as Seymour relinquishes his
bathrobe and charms the charming Sybil, we have a direct line to his
thoughts in the unexpected journal entries. No amount of Buddy's
loyal cheerleading up to the point of reading the journal could have prepared
me for the sun-coming-up-at-100-mph experience of the change in voice from
Buddy's defensive apprehension to inocent and lovely words that JDS
put into S's journal. By the second, third, fourth time around the collected
works we expect Seymour to be the Wise Child and mystic poet, but I think
that when Buddy barricades himself in the holy bathroom is when I 
started to think that I had better reread APDFBF.

    (By the way, there is a distinct chance that I have remembered the chain
of events in RHTRBC incorrectly (I have no access right now, and it's been
a few months since last reread), in a way that makes what I have written
nonsense. If this is the case, I would greatly appreciate it if you would
disregard it and rebuke me, but gently, please.)

    Then we learn that Seymour is too happy to get married. Would this
revelation have sent chills down our spines if we had not already witnessed
Muriel drying her nails? Knowing as we do that from joy or from sadness
this marriage comes to abrupt end, doesn't this embitter the tears of joy
we figuratively would like to share with the happy man? Does the effect
of the story depend on this prior knowledge, and is it good writing to
make use of such tactics?

    Finally, this is obviously a love story. Maybe it's the only love story
I've ever read. As Tim wrote, there is a strong sense of affirmation
here, as though feelings which we can only ever express to our diaries
count more than maids of honor who doth protest too much. Seymour wrestles
with his overwhelming emotions, but this time the ending is a wedding and
not a funeral.

   While I'm at it, and way down here at the bottom, I would like to add
to the number of categories of Salinger-readers/list-participants. Besides
those writers sitting in the front row to see which sleeve El Salingeri pulls
his literary gems from, and those of us so involved in the virtual lives
of our heros that we would pay good money for the contents of one of
Seymour's used handkerchiefs or Holden's hunting hat (I do not mean to deride 
anyone here, being, like Schrodinger's poor cat, in both those groups myself.
Furthermore, and this is directed at the person who originally made a similar
distinction between our members, I really am aware that you were not trying
to place an upper limit on the various types of possible reading experiences.
I simply am using this as an introduction to my own addition, to follow.)
I highly doubt that I am the only one who reads in order to learn something.
After finishing "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" I was ready to avoid sleeping
in strange beds at all costs. Well, for me, the lesson I see in RHTRBC, which
I do not care to articulate here, has taken me 25 years so far to assimilate,
and may take another 25, but was worth the price of admission.

   I realize that I have asked a lot of questions, and lumped them together
into one long post. I seriously hope that this will not deter anyone from
tackling (do they tackle in Australian rules football or rugby?) one or
more that strikes his or her fancy. Thanks.

all the best,
Mattis