Re: Hello!
Sarah (cinnimon@vvm.com)
Sun, 07 Jun 1998 20:40:19 -0700 (PDT)
not only are your statements true, but it seems that the ashes of the
cigarrettes play a key role. Mrs. Glass continuously brushes off the ashes
from her cigarrettes from her lap, thus brushing away all of the problems
that are making her nervous: mostly those of Buddy. I forgot to mention
previously the deaf-mute in _Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters_. His
Cuban Havana Cigar is not lit until Buddy returns from the kitchen with the
Tom Colinses.
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you're on to something here--I remember that several months ago we had an
interesting discussion going on this topic. It seems to me that in focusing
so
heavily on smokers and their habits, Salinger was BOTH reflecting the
habits of
his time and effectively characterizing a certain group of people. There is
an
intense nervousness to so many of Salinger's characters that is captured in
their smoking habits, as well as a kind of well-bred indolence. Remember
that
Holden was worried that his mother would hear him go to Phoebe's room
because
she usually sat up chain smoking half the night.