Subject: Re: Eskimo question
From: Andrew Kennis (kennis@math.grin.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 25 1997 - 14:24:48 GMT
On Tue, 25 Feb 1997, Kara Robertson wrote:
> Hi all, I'm new to the group.
>
Hi.
> I'm trying to distinguish a "main theme" throughout the atleast 3 of the "9
> Stories." I've decided using the innocence of the children in relation
> to the crazy adult characters illustrated in the strories: Uncle Wiggly,
> For Esme, & Bananafish.
>
> Could it be that the adults in these stories are "struck" when they interact?
>
> Evidence:
>
> Each meeting has had a profound effect on the charcters who are dealing
> with the children (ex. Semour and Sybil, Esme and Ramona, Eloise and her
> little girl?)
>
> I'm not sure if I have enough evidence to support this throughout.
>
> (I'm new at this, just started reading Salinger.)
>
Nononono Kara, not only do I think that is a very good consistent theme
to point out that was definitely embedded in those three stories, I think
it is a theme embedded into several other stories in "Nine Stories".
"Teddy" comes to mind as well as "Down at the Dinghy (sp????)". In fact,
I think that either of those two stories might even be a better example
than "Bananafish". Certainly, Seymour's interaction with Sybil had great
meaning, but I do not think it had a change or a huge effect on Seymour's
way of thinking. I think that Esme had a profound effect on Sergeant X's
thinking. I think that Teddy had a profound effect on the stranger that
talked to him. I think that Boo Boo's son has not so much a profound
effect in the sotry itself, but just a profound effect in general. Even
though Eloise and her daughter and Seymour and Sybil are definitely good
examples of the theme you are alluding to, I am not sure if they are as
strong of examples as shown in "Teddy", "Down at the <whatever>", and
"Esme". Nevertheless, I do agree that they are still valid examples. :-)
--AK
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