through a Glass darkly
Scottie Bowman (bowman@mail.indigo.ie)
Sun, 18 Jan 1998 21:35:32 +0000
Steve is absolutely right that I'm the one who's changed.
I suppose there'd be some reason for shame if I hadn't.
The self-absorption of youth is charming but ludicrous when
it persists into old age. And I think it was that sort of
narcissism which, in the Glass stories, Salinger seemed
to hold up for our admiration but which, on rereading, I found
so off-putting.
The New York that Mr Salvaggio portrays is indeed a
stressful one - but it's not quite the privileged environment
of good schools & glamorous jobs which most of Salinger's
characters enjoy. I can't offhand recall any of his protagonists
seriously worried about finding work, or having enough money
or being unattractive or having to face a wasting illness.
Their troubles are the troubles of the greatly favoured.
Although Holden too belongs in this ambience he seems to me
to possess, with all his imagination & insight, the kind of rage
for existence that marks the living individual - & which the
Glasses notably lack. I suspect Holden took Salinger over -
whereas Buddy & Seymour & Zooey were carefully contrived masks
for him to wear.
I'm going back to Esme as soon as I can find her. My memories
are of her & her friend are as happy as the ones I retain of Holden.
Scottie B.
PS Published ? Yes, to - naturally - huge acclaim. But that
was in another country (a very long time ago) & besides, the wench
is dead. Not dead forever, though.