Re: Seymours suicide

Steve Gallagher (sgallagher@lasersedge.net)
Thu, 25 Sep 1997 12:17:53 +0000

You know, if you hang around long enough the Seymour's Suicide thread always
reappears, each time bringing a little more insight than the last (a
reincarnation of sorts, no?). It has always struck me that the mechanics of
ABDFB are so well crafted that it is almost criminal to ignore the smallest of
details--it has always bothered me that the pistol Seymour fires is an Ortiges
7.65. Perhaps there is someone new to the list that knows something about this
gun? After all, Chekov taught us never to hang a rifle over the fireplace if
it isn't to be used during the play (somewhat applicable, I think. Salinger
does name the gun.). Also regarding the mechanics, it seems to me that we are
lead to believe that Seymour may/will harm Muriel right up to the final
sentence of the story, when he turns the gun on himself. This scene to me
(before/after/during the actual act) is sublime. It ends so suddenly I have
never really entertained thoughts of Muriel and the possibility of blood on
her face. Does Salinger not force the climax and ensuing denoument between the
ears of the reader? I asked once about Salinger's experience in the Hurtgen
(sp?) forest and was referred to TIF. I'm having trouble remembering now, but
I'm sure someone somewhere cited Salinger declaring his experience in the
Hurtgen forest sublime. Or war in general. Anyone?