I, too, have always been curious about Muriel. She just doesn't seem good enough for our Seymour. I am always so touched by the part in his journal in "Raise High..." when he calls her a "poor sweet baby." I don't know why he loves her. He just seems to be touched by her simplicity (whatever that means). I am interested in what others think about her. Why, Seymour, why? Susan Brendan McKennedy wrote: > > Having just mentioned her in my last post, my mind is now fixed on Muriel. > > Over time, Muriel has steadily bored into my heart and become one of my favorite > characters. In my first experiences with her, in "bananafish" and indirectly in > "Carpenters", I tried not to like her. I tried to find her superficial and annoying...but > mostly because I wanted to much to believe in Seymour and what he Stands For... > > Of course, I was ignoring that Seymour himself loved her, and indeed tells us so > in his journals...and now I want to discover why. I'm very drawn to her character > as well, buy I can't figure out why. All of the traits she displays are obnoxious--especially > viewed through Seymour-colored glasses. She's remarkably like Sally Hayes, who I > can't stand. For some reason, I feel a depth of character in Muriel that I just > don't sense in Sally. > > It's more than the tragedy that she was widowed by Seymour's happiness. I can't honestly > say I know what it is. > > If anyone else feels this inexplicable draw toward Muriel--or even if you don't--maybe > you could shed some light on this for me. I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter, > except those dealing with her Homosexuality, the Morality of It, or the Morality > of the Aliens who kidnapped her in a Parallel Dimension. > > Just kidding folks. (Not really though.) > > Brendan. > > > Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere! > http://www.mailexcite.com