Re: suicide / textual


Subject: Re: suicide / textual
From: jason varsoke (jjv@caesun.msd.ray.com)
Date: Wed Mar 01 2000 - 09:07:06 EST


   Perhaps we should take a different approach to this "coward" thing.
Let's look at the text, author intention, and what it means to us.

   Jim, in the text where are the signs of Seymour's avoidance of life,
cowardace, or that he takes the easy way out? Where do you find that in
his character? The most important point against this to me is his service
revolver. It symbolizes his acceptence of patriotic duty, that Seymour
has seen the front, that (as will all Vets in my mind) is a hero and
braver than I'll ever be. The service pistol is extremely important. It
purposely shows his connections to duty, bravery, responsibility, and
links him to battle-fatigue (post-tramatic stress disorder / shell shock /
gulf war syndrome).
   That Seymour is a soldier is, in my passionate opinion, the most
important detail of the piece. JDS doesn't beat us over the head with it.
He only mentions the war once I think. That's enough. Like a good writer
he plants seeds and leaves. Myrial, Myrial's mom and Sybil are all
counter-point to Seymour and the bananafish. I don't think Seymour (the
pre-Glass family Seymour) can handle the incredible dispairity between
civilian innocence and his scarred soul. And I think that's why he's
named Seymour (See-more). And I think that's what he sees.

   I know author intention gets a bad rap today, but let's take a peek
anyway. You really think JDS would be interested in writing a story about
a coward? As a writer, I wouldn't find it interesting.

   And what does the story mean to us? Why would the NYer publish a story
where the main character can be summed up with the word "coward." Sure,
he's and interesting coward, but still a coward. But more important than
the NYer, what about us? Why would we be so rapped, so intrigued with
this coward? Why don't we dismis him like all the other cowards we know?
   Self-identification is the strongest link between story and reader.
We're facinated most by characters that show us something about ourselves.
Does Seymour then show us that we are all cowards? That we would do the
same if in his shoes?

   And, finally, let's try to remember that Seymour wasn't a mystic until
after APDFB.

-jason

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