That is entry #89 in our ongoing 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words sequence.
[Content warning: The following contains a brief depiction and a discussion of suicide.]
Excerpts from J.D. Salinger’s “A Excellent Day for Bananafish”:
“Muriel. Now, take heed to me.”
“I’m listening.”
“Your father talked to Dr. Sivetski.”
“Oh?” mentioned the lady
“He advised him all the things. At the very least, he mentioned he did – you understand your father. The timber. That enterprise with the window. These horrible issues he mentioned to Granny about her locations for passing away. What he did with all these pretty photos from Bermuda – all the things.”
“Effectively?” mentioned the lady
“Effectively. Within the first place, he mentioned it was an ideal crime the Military launched him from the hospital – my phrase of honor. He very positively advised your father there’s an opportunity – a really nice likelihood, he mentioned – that Seymour might utterly lose management of himself. My phrase of honor.”[…]
“Sybil,” he mentioned, “I’ll let you know what we’ll do. We’ll see if we will catch a bananafish.”
“A what?”
“A bananafish,” he mentioned, and undid the belt of his gown. He took off the gown. His shoulders had been white and slim, and his trunks had been royal blue. He folded the gown, first lengthwise, then in thirds. […]. He bent over, picked up the float, and secured it below his proper arm. Then, together with his left hand, he took Sybil’s hand.[…]
He bought off on the fifth ground, walked down the corridor, and let himself into 507. The room smelled of recent calfskin baggage and nail-lacquer remover.
He glanced on the lady mendacity asleep on one of many twin beds. Then he went over to one of many items of baggage, opened it, and from below a pile of shorts and undershirts he took out an Ortgies calibre 7.65 computerized. He launched the journal, checked out it, then reinserted it. He cocked the piece. Then he went over and sat down on the unoccupied twin mattress, seemed on the lady, aimed the pistol, and fired a bullet by means of his proper temple.”
Thinker: Sean T. Murphy (Southern Utah College)
Paintings: “A Excellent Day for Bananafish,” brief story by J.D. Salinger. In 9 Tales (1953).
Phrases: The 2022 Nationwide Veteran Suicide Prevention annual report states that 16 veterans commit suicide each day. Think about surviving an artillery barrage, your physique pressed in opposition to the frozen floor of the Ardennes forest (the place Salinger served throughout WWII). Eardrums shot, mates lifeless, their our bodies, as soon as housing senses of humor, smiles, and very important spirits now in items sufficiently small to slot in your helmet. Welcome house! Time for trip; for grocery purchasing; for loving and being current. The story’s worth lies in its disturbingly elegant dealing with of the returned soldier’s plight. Maybe Salinger is questioning whether or not anybody ever actually returns from conflict.
