Analysis Of 'A Perfect Day For Bananafish'

J.D. Salinger portrays Muriel and Seymour Glass’s marriage as distant and noninteractive. The quote “The marriage between Seymour and Muriel is shown as one that is unhappy, empty, and distant” (Kerr) explains how bad their relationship. The author shows they probably do not talk that much or interact. “I don’t know, mother. I guess cause he’s so pale and all,’ said the girl, ‘Anyway, after Bingo he and his wife asked me if I wouldn’t like to join them for a drink. So I did” (Salinger ). The author is saying that Muriel doesn’t talk to Seymour before doing anything. She just does it. Most spouses would call the other one if they got invited to do anything and either invite them also or just inform them. But Muriel just went by herself. The …show more content…
Salinger portrays Muriel as a conceited woman who cares more about herself then other people. This can be seen in the quotation “her preoccupation with her own appearance. Her answering the telephone only on the fifth or sixth ring again accents her vanity” (“A Perfect Day for Bananafish”). The author seems to be suggesting Muriel doesn’t jump to actions for other people. She finishes what she is doing with herself and then will go to the needs of other people. Salinger adds to this by saying “While the phone was ringing… she then replaced the cap on the bottle of lacquer and, standing up passed her left- the wet- hand back and forth through the air. With her dry hand, she picked up a congested ashtray from the window seat and carried it wither her over to the night table, on which the phone stood” (Salinger ). The words suggest she mostly cares about herself and her appearance. Normally people would go right to a ringing phone, but Muriel took her time finishing what she was doing. Which emphasizes her vanity. The author seems to be exploring the idea that vanity causes characters to be less understandable and approachable, showing less interactions with loved …show more content…
This quote supports “Seymour, whose name perhaps indicates that he sees more clearly than other people” (Shuman). This quote is stating he can see more clearly than others. Seymour’s name is looked at like “see more” so it is suggested he can see more things than other people. Or in the past has seen more things like during the war and that is why he has PTSD. This is supported by “I see you’re looking at my feet,’ he said to her when the car was in motion” (Salinger ). The author is suggesting that Seymour saw the lady in the elevator look at his feet. Except when he confronts her she denies it and says she was looking at the floor. Seymour saw her do it and keeps insisting she was looking at is feet until she leaves the elevator. Developing the interpretation longer, one could argue saying the lady was right. Except he knew what he saw and he sees a lot. He says she was looking at his feet, and he believes he is right because he can see more than