Seymours suicide

pmiller@memphisonline.com
Thu, 25 Sep 1997 10:51:32 -0500

She's
not intertwined with Seymour's soul, she wouldn't fall apart when she
realizes what's happened, she wouldn't want to die herself. 

Perhaps that's why he chose to do it there, he knew she could take it,
and
that it would somehow be easier to wake up and find him gone and realize
that he was gone, as the sight of him would convince her quicker than
any
narrated version of the suicide. It would also get her the attention
that
she would need to get over it, people rushing to their bedroom, trying
to
comfort her, somebody phoning her parents, her parents coming
immediately.

Karen

Sorry but this semms to me to be an enormous stretch to rationalize
Seymours self centered behavior. The thought that the mourning process
moves along quicker because your loved one slaughters himself in front
of you, ignores the reality of the trauma that such an action induces. 
 We all love Salingers characters, and it can be hard to look at their
negative side, but I think Salinger wrote in a negative side and wants
us to see the whole character, good, bad, and ugly.

                                                           Paul