Re: translations, readers of TCITR
Malcolm Lawrence (malcolm@wolfenet.com)
Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:46:14 -0800
Mattis Fishman wrote:
> 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.
Yeah, pretty much.
> 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.
Yes. To be able to empathize so whole-heartedly with Holden when you yourself are
going through that process of maturity that he is can be a very tenuous time. And
like any spiritual battle your soul wages, those lessons learned and that taste of
despair is never trivialized subsequently. If one were to be able to trivialize it
and allow oneself to become embarrassed by it you would immediately distance
yourself and begin condescending to any others who were at the same point that you
yourself once were, which is the ultimate hypocrisy: to act as if it were no small
thing. That would be denial of your own soul's journey and would end up being very
detrimental to your psyche I would imagine. But once you understand what JDS was
illustrating about catching and being caught and once you've pulled back from the
drama of that threshold of maturity you're more than willing to offer to catch
those who themselves want to catch, but may need catching themselves first. To
quote Morrissey: "So when you're dancing and laughing and finally living/hear my
voice in your head and think of me kindly."
> OK, I think that your argument is very well taken.
Cheers. Just how I see it though. I'd love to hear how someone else sees it.
> >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.
Well then it's up to the reader to analyze why they themselves have such problems
with language which is not exactly undertaken by only a very small percentage of
the population. These are words that have been around forever and we all use them
at some time or another (familial or societal repression notwithstanding) when
being as consumed by rage as Holden is. (Very easy to double click on this thought
for a discussion of "taboos.") JDS could have taken out half of those words and
had the same effect, but by using so many of them over and over he desensitizes
you to them. You don't notice them after awhile. They become verbal tics, really,
because Holden is so confused by his rage at the world that he himself probably
doesn't even realize he's swearing that much. And THAT is why his pervasive use of
the words is so scary, NOT the words in and of themselves.
> all the best,
> Mattis
> (pleased to have inspired a reply from Malcolm, but slightly insulted :)
> that it did not merit a signature)
Oh heavens, I honestly didn't mean to insult you. The ongoing commentary of how
this forum is similar to a drinking session at a large table most of the time must
be subconsciously prompting me to dispense with signing my name just because,
well, you can see who I am when you open the post. I'll take my responsibility for
my own neglect if it bothers others I guess. I'm using Netscape mail and the
signature thingie doesn't work, which I'd ideally like to take care of that
formality. I mean well, really.
Yours sincerely,
Armitage Shanks
:)