Now death is another predominant theme in Salinger’s works and depending on the stories plot and characters death can play various roles. For instance, in “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” death or suicide is Seymour’s character and state of mind. In Seymour’s case death is treated as an escape for him as he cannot function comfortable in his everyday life. Wiegand notes that “Seymour can express himself only to a little girl” and that “the secretly prying eyes of others he is unable to bear” (15). Thus, when this all gets to be too much resorts to suicide: “He took out an Ortgies calibre 7.65 automatic…aimed the pistol, and fired a bullet through his right temple” (18). [will add more later]
In “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut” death is heavily …show more content…
Salinger demonstrates Ramona’s immaturity as she uses death as a tool to get herself a new friend. Straight away this scene is jarring for the reader and Eloise as their understanding of death differs from that of a child and Ramona. Perhaps to a child death could simply mean not seeing something again, but to Eloise and Holden it means much more. William Wiegand describes death as “the most primitive way of making loss concrete” and Holden and Eloise’s memories and emotions emphasis that loss (9). Whereas with Ramona, she does not experience this as she can easily replace Jimmy, thus make the loss seem meaningless. Nonetheless Ramona is not the only character in the story that deals with death as Eloise faces her own turmoil with it, but rather than imaginary it is a real person. Eloise see death as something that took away her deceased lover Walter who “dies not in battle but in an ‘absurd’ camp accident” and something that altered her life (9 Wiegand). Now, although she carelessly says phrases such as “say you’re dead” or “say you were killed”, it is evident that Eloise is still affected by her loss. This is most apparent when she reminisces a phrase Walter told her when she injured herself: “ The, suddenly, she rushed, in the dark, over to the night table, banging her knee against the foot of the bed, but too full of purpose to feel pain…Tears rolled down her face… ‘Poor Uncle Wiggily,” she said over and over again” (37). Even though Eloise hurt …show more content…
Similarly, to Ramona and even her Mother Eloise, Booper has a tendency to throw around terms and phrases related to death and killing others: “‘All I need now is two giants…they could climb up on that smoke stack and throw these at everybody and kill them…they could kill your parents” (177). Naturally children are imaginative and seem to have no filter when chatting, but Booper’s extensive repetition of diction relating to death is alarming especially when she refers to another kid as a “carcass” when she wants them to move out of her way (176). Already her blunt attitude and mentions of death make Booper appear less innocent an appealing compared to Ramona’s portrayal. In fact, James Bryan remarks that “critics who complain of Salinger’s sentimentality about children must have overlooked Booper” as she that unpleasant (358). In addition, Teddy’s passing also highlights his sister, Booper’s characterisation as well. When Teddy describes the manner in which he will die Booper’s probable involvement reveals her feelings towards him as she “’doesn’t like [Teddy] that much’” (193). Booper’s act of pushing Teddy into the empty pool also exhibits a reasonable representation of a young character as siblings engage in fights with one another. In these ways Salinger effectively demonstrates other views children have of death and
In “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut” death is heavily …show more content…
Salinger demonstrates Ramona’s immaturity as she uses death as a tool to get herself a new friend. Straight away this scene is jarring for the reader and Eloise as their understanding of death differs from that of a child and Ramona. Perhaps to a child death could simply mean not seeing something again, but to Eloise and Holden it means much more. William Wiegand describes death as “the most primitive way of making loss concrete” and Holden and Eloise’s memories and emotions emphasis that loss (9). Whereas with Ramona, she does not experience this as she can easily replace Jimmy, thus make the loss seem meaningless. Nonetheless Ramona is not the only character in the story that deals with death as Eloise faces her own turmoil with it, but rather than imaginary it is a real person. Eloise see death as something that took away her deceased lover Walter who “dies not in battle but in an ‘absurd’ camp accident” and something that altered her life (9 Wiegand). Now, although she carelessly says phrases such as “say you’re dead” or “say you were killed”, it is evident that Eloise is still affected by her loss. This is most apparent when she reminisces a phrase Walter told her when she injured herself: “ The, suddenly, she rushed, in the dark, over to the night table, banging her knee against the foot of the bed, but too full of purpose to feel pain…Tears rolled down her face… ‘Poor Uncle Wiggily,” she said over and over again” (37). Even though Eloise hurt …show more content…
Similarly, to Ramona and even her Mother Eloise, Booper has a tendency to throw around terms and phrases related to death and killing others: “‘All I need now is two giants…they could climb up on that smoke stack and throw these at everybody and kill them…they could kill your parents” (177). Naturally children are imaginative and seem to have no filter when chatting, but Booper’s extensive repetition of diction relating to death is alarming especially when she refers to another kid as a “carcass” when she wants them to move out of her way (176). Already her blunt attitude and mentions of death make Booper appear less innocent an appealing compared to Ramona’s portrayal. In fact, James Bryan remarks that “critics who complain of Salinger’s sentimentality about children must have overlooked Booper” as she that unpleasant (358). In addition, Teddy’s passing also highlights his sister, Booper’s characterisation as well. When Teddy describes the manner in which he will die Booper’s probable involvement reveals her feelings towards him as she “’doesn’t like [Teddy] that much’” (193). Booper’s act of pushing Teddy into the empty pool also exhibits a reasonable representation of a young character as siblings engage in fights with one another. In these ways Salinger effectively demonstrates other views children have of death and