It’s crazy to think that two pieces of literature can be so similar, yet so far apart in the time from when they were written. Sophocles play Oedipus the King, written in 496 BC is similar to J.D. Salinger’s short story “A Perfect Day for Bananafish,” published in 1948 in many ways. Both the play and the short story have many coinciding ideas such as the struggle of finding out who you really are in the world. Many people struggle with this problem, like the main characters, Seymour Glass in “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J.D. Salinger and Oedipus in Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus, the King of Thebes struggles to find his place in the world because of the experiences and actions of people in his life. Oedipus was born to King Laius
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Laius wanted to change the prophecy, which was that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. When Oedipus was born, Laius bound his feet together and brought him to the mountainside to die, where he was then discovered by a shepherd and brought to the city of Corinth. Oedipus was raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope. Oedipus was mislead his whole life, he believed his real father was King Polybus and mother was Merope, which leads him to have problems with self identity. He can't figure out who he truly is because of the misconception of his real parents. Oedipus learned from the Oracle of the prophecy, but believing he was fated to murder Polybus and marry Merope, he left Corinth. Also, Oedipus goes to Thebes to search for himself and find out who he really is. Man is a mystery to himself. On his way, Oedipus encounters a man wearing a …show more content…
Salinger’s “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” who is a World War II veteran who appears to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the war. J.D. Salinger's story, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," seems to be a simple short story about a couple on vacation in Florida and his encounter with a child named Sybil on the beach. Seymour's relationship with Sybil after further examination allows one to see that what really is taking place is Seymour's search for truth and innocence in the world. Seymour Glass wants more in life than what he already has. He is married to an upper class, materialistic woman and he wants nothing to do with the materials of life, he's just pondering through life searching for meaning. When communicating with Sybil, Seymour is beyond content and is very comfortable. Seymour Glass is very comfortable with children, but when it comes to adults he panics. Children can see right through people. The statement “See-more-glass” is said by Sybil to her mother, symbolizing that she sees right through Seymour and his issues of self identity. Seymour is unable to express his emotions and feels trapped in his own body, like the bananafish in his story. Bananafish are creatures that swim into a hole, gorge themselves on bananas inside that hole, and die due to the fact that they are much too large to come back out. Because Seymour is traumatized and unable to connect with adults, he finds odd comfort in the innocence of
Laius wanted to change the prophecy, which was that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. When Oedipus was born, Laius bound his feet together and brought him to the mountainside to die, where he was then discovered by a shepherd and brought to the city of Corinth. Oedipus was raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope. Oedipus was mislead his whole life, he believed his real father was King Polybus and mother was Merope, which leads him to have problems with self identity. He can't figure out who he truly is because of the misconception of his real parents. Oedipus learned from the Oracle of the prophecy, but believing he was fated to murder Polybus and marry Merope, he left Corinth. Also, Oedipus goes to Thebes to search for himself and find out who he really is. Man is a mystery to himself. On his way, Oedipus encounters a man wearing a …show more content…
Salinger’s “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” who is a World War II veteran who appears to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the war. J.D. Salinger's story, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," seems to be a simple short story about a couple on vacation in Florida and his encounter with a child named Sybil on the beach. Seymour's relationship with Sybil after further examination allows one to see that what really is taking place is Seymour's search for truth and innocence in the world. Seymour Glass wants more in life than what he already has. He is married to an upper class, materialistic woman and he wants nothing to do with the materials of life, he's just pondering through life searching for meaning. When communicating with Sybil, Seymour is beyond content and is very comfortable. Seymour Glass is very comfortable with children, but when it comes to adults he panics. Children can see right through people. The statement “See-more-glass” is said by Sybil to her mother, symbolizing that she sees right through Seymour and his issues of self identity. Seymour is unable to express his emotions and feels trapped in his own body, like the bananafish in his story. Bananafish are creatures that swim into a hole, gorge themselves on bananas inside that hole, and die due to the fact that they are much too large to come back out. Because Seymour is traumatized and unable to connect with adults, he finds odd comfort in the innocence of