RE: The Sound of Silence

I may have interpreted the allusion wrong, but I think it is there and worth considering.  Sybil's name gives it away, but Salinger also includes an extended reference to the story through color references.  Here it is briefly; unfortuantely, I cannot remember all the mythology details from the time I looked into it last year.  Sybil can be seen as Sibyl the Prophetess, who is remembered for passing out golden scrolls of enlightenment, and Seymour, who is symbolized by the color blue, is Glaucus, "The Blue Man," Sibyl's father.  I think the scrolls could be the story of the bananafish, thus the golden color, from which she could learn and share with others.  Sure she may not have regrets now, but she's only a young girl.  The prophet reference makes me think there was a hope element included, but I could also see how the name aberration could symbolize a lost hope.  What do you think?

By the way, I was reading Louis Sachar's There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom today, and I came across a nice reference to Raise High the Roof Beams Carpenter that pertained to the cardinal rules of a Zen monastery.  It's kind of embarassing for a high schooler to be cruising around the children's section, but I can't get enough of Louis Sachar's books.

Thanks,

Elizabeth