Re: Mr. Antolini
Malcolm Lawrence (malcolm@wolfenet.com)
Thu, 04 Dec 1997 11:01:44 -0800
Brendan McKennedy wrote:
> I'm sorry I'm driving this into the ground, but I refuse to admit that Salinger's
> characters are simply innocent admirers of the silliness of childhood.
I don't believe by any stretch of the imagination that Salinger illustrated these episodes
simply to have his characters be thought of as "attracted to the silliness of childhood." I
think this is an unfair stereotype of children, just as I think that much like adults,
children can be as attractive (and I don't mean sexually) for any number of various
attributes they may have. I've learned as much from children as I have from adults, if not
more. Children have personalities every bit as puzzling and refreshing as adults. The only
thing children lack is experience of the world. That's the ONLY thing. Children are just as
wise, insightful, caring, hurtful, jealous as adults are. But adults are supposed to have
learned from their mistakes. Fallen from grace, sure, but saved by themselves. Because any
idiot can, and probably will, fall. But it's through the acceptance of experience and NOT
the denial of it, that one can step back and say "That was a mistake, but I've learned from
it." I have a bountiful amount of agape for children, but I have not one shred of eros at
all and I can accept that. Why not bring in a tangible cultural icon to flesh out this
discussion? One who has always maintained close friendships with children. Look at Michael
Jackson. How's that for a whole ball of wax to give this thread even more momentum?
Malcs