Re: Muriel

LR Pearson, Arts 99 (lp9616@bristol.ac.uk)
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 10:37:20 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)

On Mon, 29 Nov 1999 14:55:36 -0800 "Cecilia A. Baader" 
<cbaader@my-Deja.com> wrote:


> 
  So a reading of Muriel strictly from what we read in Bananafish is 
difficult, to be sure.  With so many of Salingers stories, we can do a 
superficial reading (e.g. Franny is Pregnant) or a deeper reading (e.g. 
Franny is in the midst of a spiritual crisis.)  Most can agree that in 
Bananafish, we have an adult daughter trying to assert her independence 
from an overwhelming mother. 
> 
> But what if we try a slightly different slant to what we're observing in the phone conversation?  Think of Muriel as an astute girl, offering her mother all the correct, expected responses in an anticipated conversation.  Her mother wants to come to Florida to save her, but here's the rub:  Muriel doesn't want her.  But she doesn't want to alienate her mother or make her so angry that she'll come anyway.  
> 
> So how do you keep that kind of person away?  By convincing her that she doesn't want to come.  The Crowd that you Like to See isn't here, Mother. They don't Dress Like You Do.  Seymour's Fine.  There wasn't any Trouble on the way down here, and if there is later, we have a Psychologist On Hand.  Seymour is so Funny.  Oh, and Mom?  Where's that book that's so Important to My Husband?  I need to have it.
> 
> It's different than what most people believe, I know.  And I'm not sure that I'd have that opinion if I didn't have the rest of the Glass stories, but it's the reading that feels most right to me.  I guess we could play that game that came up a few months ago, what if you were reading Bananafish for the first time?  And is it Will who likes to Xerox the APDFB with the last line blotted out and have his classes make up the last line of the story? What an excellent way to introduce this to a classroom full of unsuspecting undergrads.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Cecilia.
> 
> (And might I mention, all good points, Jim?  What fun this is.)
> 
> 

Cecilia, 

What an interesting and convincing reading. It makes Muriel's role a 
lot more understandable.

Thanks,

Love, Lucy-Ruth

----------------------
LR Pearson, Arts 99
lp9616@bristol.ac.uk