Lecture 64b: Salinger's "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

"Franny" and "Zooey" (and FRANNY AND ZOOEY) depend--in many important (but subtle) ways--upon Seymour Glass. Published in the New Yorker in 1948, "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" introduces us to Seymour--in the moments before his death. Even in absence, Seymour is foundational for the entire Glass Family, but he might be MOST crucial to the youngest Glasses, Franny and Zooey. If you love FRANNY AND ZOOEY, a deep dive into "Bananafish" will make you love it even more.

[@WayneSmith]

I feel like you're a psychoanalyst with how you dig into the character motivations in these novels. It's a really great perspective, I'm enjoying your videos. It feels like I'm getting a college education for free. Seeing your passion gives me motivation to make more.

[@thefoxedpage]

The psychoanalyst thing here is very real! In part because Salinger is pretty hung up on all of it. I love a work where the author is kind of giving you permission to read all the freudian stuff you can think of!