Re: translations, readers of TCITR
Mattis Fishman (mattis@argos.argoscomp.com)
Wed, 28 Jan 1998 10:37:15 -0500 (EST)
Hello,
When I wondered if there were a time or age when a reader might be
embarrassed by Holden, the redoubtable Malcolm Lawrence replied:
>For any reader who has ever identified with Holden, I don't believe they can
>retrospectively be embarrassed by him because at that particular junction of
>his soul when the tale is told it is a very dark, bleak time when the full
>weight of the hypocrisy of the world is all too evident and which DOES give
>you a sense of nausea and does make you want to use as many obscenities as
>you can. Once you've been at that point of despair, if anything you feel
>embarrassed for people who have NOT reached that point. To quote Courtney
>Hole: "You will ache like I ache."
and later (I hope I haven't accidentally shifted your emphasis by cutting):
>However, he is not a nihilist, he does not succumb to solipsism or ennui.
If I understand correctly, you mean to say that there is nothing to be
embarrassed about, that Holden's state of mind is hard earned, noble,
elevates him above the oblivious, if happier, general population,
and is not simply adolescent self-centeredness.
This would imply, that even a reader who felt he had outgrown Holden's
mindset (and you may remember that such a point of view has been been
mentioned) and was now able to function under "the full weight of the
hypocrisy of the world", would look back at Holden (and presumably himself)
with sympathy rather than (self-)reproach. No regret.
OK, I think that your argument is very well taken.
Does anyone see traces of "solipsism or ennui", or plain immaturity
which in retrospect might be embarrassing?
Further, on the topic of obscenity, Malcolm offers:
>It's intellectually lazy to say "too many swear words, I can't get past it."
>You have to wonder to yourself WHY he's using those swear words. Basically...
My mention of Holden's potentially offensive speech wasn't meant to
be a comment on the obscenity itself. Rather to point out, in the context
of discussing various types of people's reaction to TCITR, that some
people, from cultural backgrounds very different from Holden's Manhattan
(and your cosmopolitan stomping grounds) might be *uncomfortable* with
such language. Even if, as you say, the words reflect the state of mind
which we are being invited to view by Mr. Salinger.
all the best,
Mattis
(pleased to have inspired a reply from Malcolm, but slightly insulted :)
that it did not merit a signature)