RE: Seymour's Suicide
Unger,Jennifer B (Jennifer.B.Unger@kp.ORG)
Sun, 13 Jul 1997 12:06:30 -0700
Hi,
I'm new to the list too (actually, I've been listening in for a while,
but I wanted to sit back and see what was going on before I jumped in
with my opinions. Like a lot of people on this list, I'm not a
literature expert. I'm just another regular person who loved CITR in
high school, loved all the other Salinger books in college, and got a
little depressed when I wasn't able to find any more Salinger books that
I hadn't read.)
Anyway, the thing that strikes me about Seymour's suicide is that he did
it while Muriel was in the room sleeping. There are hints throughout
the story that he had intended to commit suicide for a while. But why
didn't he take the gun, find a secluded spot on the beach, and do it
there? Was he so disgusted with Muriel at this point that he wanted her
to wake up to the sight of his head blown to bits all over the hotel
room? Seymour struck me as a person who didn't deliberately want to
hurt anyone. The thought of him putting a bullet through his brilliant
(albeit tortured) brain bothers me immensely, but so does the thought of
what Muriel will have to face when she wakes up.
Am I weird to feel sorry for Muriel (I know, it's like feeling sorry for
the section man or some of the pretentious guys at Pency Prep), or does
anyone else feel that way too?
Jennifer
>----------
>From: QNun123456@aol.com[SMTP:QNun123456@aol.com]
>Sent: Saturday, July 12, 1997 10:32 AM
>To: bananafish@lists.nyu.edu
>Cc: Unger,Jennifer B
>Subject: Seymour's Suicide
>
>Hi I'm new to the list! It's great that so many people like me are
>interested in J.D. Salinger's writing. The first of his books I read was
>"The Catcher in the Rye" and I thought it was the most wonderful book.
>Anyhow, I have this question. In "Nine Stories", you know, "A Perfect
>Day for Bananafish", Seymour kills himself in the end. I don't really get
>that thing with the little girl, either. Why does Seymour kill himself? Any
>thoughts?
> Tyjen
>