Re: In the name of complete discussion....


Subject: Re: In the name of complete discussion....
From: Will Hochman (Hochman@scsu.ctstateu.edu)
Date: Sun Sep 24 2000 - 02:25:35 GMT


One of the things that got me about the Shulevitz review is that
Allie and Seymour are not Salinger's only characters and their dying
is not about all of Salinger's characters (not to mention that
Seymour's "dying" actually produced the stories that follow...).
What about Esme? What about her marriage and healing of X? What
about Lois Taggert? What about so many characters of Salinger's who
readers sense something positive in their futures? After all, I read
Catcher as the story of Holden catching himself (with an assist from
Phoebe). I agree that Salinger has dark qualities to his characters
and uses plot and death effectively, but to color Salinger negatively
for making his characters die is silly....I didn't say it as well on
the Slate site as here, but I really didn't see why Shulevitz was so
negative about both Salingers. My guess is that it's a lot easier to
write a negative review than understand the complexity that Ms.
Salinger brings to some of our most important literary issues...will

-- 
Will Hochman
Assistant Professor of English & Composition Co-Coordinator
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT 06515
203 392 6962

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