Seymour's Suicide

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: The Espy Family: "hello"
• Previous message: David Carmean: "Re: Seymour's Suicide"

Hmmm...  Seymour's suicide...  Some great thoughts and theories being
written in this thread (digest 41 in particular, and thanks to Brian for
the reprint of Susan Stamberg's report on Salinger - I had missed it).

I don't think Muriel had much to do with Seymour's death - she was just
along for the ride (though Seymour's marriage to her still eludes me -
setting Muriel aside, why would he marry anyone?  why would he
participate in the act of marriage?).  I think by having the gun along
on his honeymoon there was some element of premeditation to his suicide
- he must have been contemplating it.

I like the theory (from Beth I think) that by seeing a bananafish, the
little girl takes a step towards losing her innocence.  Though it also
makes me think that she was just pretending to believe in bananafish
like Seymour was pretending there is such a mythical creature - just
making up a pretend, make-believe story.  I don't know that it's a step
towards losing her innocence as much as it is her just acting out a
fairy tale like young children do - it's okay for little kids to pretend
- it doesn't mean they're become evil adults.  Do we know how old the
little girl is?

Given that Seymour was so smart - a genius some would say - I have
always wondered why he wasn't smart enough to not commit suicide.  I
don't know anything about why people commit suicide - what brings them
to that point - I suppose there is a fair amount of psychology involved
in analyzing suicide.  But Seymour seemed smart enough to figure all of
that out.  Ultimately, maybe he was wrapped up in a depression that not
even his intellect could overcome (or recognize)...

I also know nothing about Zen.  What does this philosophy say about
suicide?

Scott

• Next message: The Espy Family: "hello"
• Previous message: David Carmean: "Re: Seymour's Suicide"