Subject: Re: Anna K., trains, Zooey
From: Ed Fenning (ed361@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Mar 10 2000 - 23:02:33 EST
--- Catherine Marie <tangerineness@hotmail.com> wrote:
Zooey's answer to Bessie asking why he
> doesn't get married: "I
> like to ride in trains too much. You never get to
> sit next to the window any
> more when you're married,"
... maybe he
> feels like there is nobody he could marry who would
> "let him sit in the
> window seat" or give him some sort of freedom. ...
maybe the freedom to simply observe the
> world.
Yes Catherine, you're right about being caught off
guard; it's a sarcastic, blunt, comment that purposely
understates his real feelings, possibly about the lack
of freedom.
I'm reminded of what Holden says to Sally over
drinks at the skating rink, she tells him
(re:traveling, etc.) that they could do all that after
they were married, to which Holden replies (not exact
quote): about how we'd have go downstairs with
luggage and all this stuff...we'd have to send
postcards to everyone. The spontaneity to just go
and do something would be lost.
Maybe Zooey is afraid of undergoing some of the
adjustments of marriage and Salinger could partly be
commenting on his shortcomings about lack of
commitment.
The other train episode I wanted to mention is
Holden's on the train after he leaves Pency. He
comments about how he likes riding trains at night.
The car's interior is so bright and the windows
outside are black. There is the illusion of being
comforted, safe, and warm inside the train when there
seems to be absolutely nothing beyond the window. But
that particular evening, having left school, the train
ride holds no magic for him.
It has probably been written about before, that the
train ride is obviously the transition from a
cloistered campus to a bumpy evening and next day in
Manhattan. This transitional ride makes Holden
"disappear" for awhile. No one knows where he is, and
he has no connection, nor is accountable to anyone he
meets on the train; hence, his lying about his
schoolmate (late here at work - can't remember names)
to the boys mother he meets.
I'm getting a bit fatigued here at work and since I'm
fading here it's difficult to finish this off.
So,I'll just say goodnight all Fishers. I'm
computerless till Monday.
- Ed
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