Subject: Re: Cheever and Salinger
From: Valerie (kate.beown@wanadoo.fr)
Date: Fri Jun 21 2002 - 14:19:45 EDT
From: "Will Hochman" <hochmanw1@owl.southernct.edu>
To: <bananafish@roughdraft.org>
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: Cheever and Salinger
> Judiasm is one of Salinger's least developed religious directions,
> but I loved the way Cecillia could connect the kabbala and
> "soulsickness." I am a Jew and think the kabbala is one of the most
> interesting parts of the religion, but I don't think Salinger
> explored Judiasm deeply and I've often wondered why. I wondered if he
> ever mentioned the kabbala in print...maybe in
> Hapworth?...dunno...but I think he may have grown up as a Jew with
> something of an attitude to assimilate into secular culture. Judiasm
> seems to be part of the Glass family, but it's never at the "lox and
> bagels" level. "Down At the Dinghy" is the only story I can think of
> that really focuses on a Jewish point in Salinger's work.
Maybe Salinger was taught jewish religion when he was a kid ( I think he
had his bar mitzvah), although I can't remember any reading confirming this
assertion. But obviously he was attached to judaism: just look at the way he
reacted when he was told that his mother was not jewish but catholic. This
lie was a kind of betrayal to him, and in the same time, he himself became a
betrayer to his own religion. Betrayer is not the most appropriate word, but
I can't find anything closer to what I mean, sorry. Let's say he used to be
an actor in judaism, and then, he was reduced to a spectator. Judaism was
the only religion he had affective links with, I guess, and it was difficult
for him to just keep studying it like a simple not-involved literate.
Then, he has been interested in many different religions, as you know, and
the fact that there are many of them proves that he wasn't personally and
faithfully affiliated to any in particuliar. They were experiences to him.
But they WERE not him. He 's still a Jew, even if he doesn't want to hear
about it anymore, or if jewishness is 'passed' by the mother, according to
the rules.
Yep. That's all I have to say. Of course, it's only speculation. But honest
and credible speculation.
I'm going back to my shell.
Valérie Aron
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