Re: Quiet list? there's always

Robert Morris (winboog@gis.net)
Tue, 30 Jun 1998 23:15:24 -0400

> In a message dated 98-06-30 22:21:20 EDT, you write:
> 
> << What confuses me is that both Holden and Franny seem to work out their
>  problems by the end of the book, while the real-life Salinger seems to
>  have simply retreated from it all. >>
  
It's funny that you should view retiring from the world as not having
worked out his problems. I'm not sure I agree with this point of view,
especially in light of what the cult of Salinger had become by the time
good ole' JD retired to the North Woods. And of course what it has become
since. Does the name Mark David Chapman mean anything to you?


> Just a suggestion, I know we don't know much about Salinger's personal
life,
> but I believe I have read he has been hospitalized for psychological
reasons.
> I tend to think that Seymour is Salinger's way of expressing himself 
(compare
> the numerous symbols and possibilities from A Perfect Day for
Bananafish). As
> well as Seymour, I think Salinger expressed himself through Holden, and
that
> suggests to me, that the ending of TCitR, if you would consider it a
> breakdown, was definitely psychological. But that's just my opinion, and
I
> would be even amazed if anyone were to agree.
> 

   If I remember my Hamilton correctly, wasn't our favorite author
hospitalized at the end of his tour of duty in the army? I've been thinking
a lot lately about what attrocities our GIs in WWII experienced. I mean,
for as long as I have been aware ( I'm 27) the horrors of Vietnam have been
put on display numerous times in the media. With WWII it seems like we have
a much tidier picture of what went on, than the actuality. With the new
Spielberg movie nearly getting a NC 17 rating for its depiction of the D
day invasion along with a few other things that have recently come across
my radar concerning this era, I'm starting to realize that this war was not
all war bonds and USO shows. What I'm trying to say, I think, is that it
would seem almost normal for our beloved JD to have been put in a looney
bin after taking part in the European liberation forces. To have it
otherwise would be a sign of a less sensative soul, surely not one capable
of writing the works we've all come to know and love. Just my two cents on
this matter. 
             Robert Morris
             winboog@gis.net

>