Re: Franny not pregnant

Najera, Joseph (badadiz@ies.net)
Fri, 01 Aug 1997 17:56:13 -0500 

At 03:43 PM 8/1/97 -0400, you wrote:
>(My apologies at the outset for probably bringing up a topic already
>resolved in the bananafish list).  
>
>When I took a creative writing class years ago, I spoke with the
>professor one day after class about my love of Salinger and especially
>_Franny and Zooey_ (however we pronounce his name).  I spoke of Franny
>and the Jesus Prayer and her "break down".  The professor came back with
>(paraphrased of course, this WAS years ago) "many critics think that
>Franny was pregnant and that is what this is really about". 
>
>I got so angry at this professor and lost complete respect for them that
>I dropped the course.  (Never taking a creative writing class again). 
>(My fault, not hers).   
>
>To clarify, or at least to finally get to the Point of all this:  It
>made me mad that a professor who was familiar with Salinger could even
>THINK and AGREE with the idea that Franny got herself pregnant.  As if
>she needed a REASON to begin searching for some kind of ANSWER to the
>religious life.  Why couldn't she think it on her own?  Why did a
>pregnancy have to be the impetus of a life with more meaning than a
>world of phonies?  How could my wonderful Franny get herself knocked
>up???!!!
>
>Okay so she WAS getting physically ill in the restaurant.  And she said
>she hadn't been herself lately.  But anyone who really gets WORKED UP
>over something can be made physically ill.  I get myself really worked
>up over things and make myself sick too.  If I can, obviously Franny
>can.  I thought that (the professor) saying Franny was pregnant was
>condescending; I thought (please forgive me here for what I am about to
>say) that a MAN come up with that idea.  As if a FEMALE couldn't come up
>with SEARCHING on their own.  As if only something AMISS (pregnancy in
>this case) could only bring it on in the life of a girl. I was
>affronted.  To say the least.  
>
>Now to the present:  I re-read "Franny" last week.  And I noticed many
>allusions to what I thought were "relations of the sexual kind".  Could
>Franny have been poregnant?  (I don't have the book here with me at work
>or I would quote them here).  My G-d, I thought!  Have I become like
>that horrible professor years ago?!  The one that thought a female
>couldn't SEARCH without a good reason?!  Have I lost my idealism?  Did
>it slip away with my adolescence?  I hope not, g-d I hope not.  
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>(I have more to say on this, but I will keep it in short attention span
>postings!).  (If no one responds, I will respond to myself :) ).  
>
>laura
>mailto:laboyce@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu
>

Nice theory.
I've read Franny and Zooey many times and, although I was aware of some
sexual allusions, I never noticed anything that would make me believe Franny
was pregnant.
Of course, if I was to read it now, with that in mind, it might change my view.
Personally, I disbelieve that, but with Salinger you never know.