Franny and Zooey
Salinger, J. D. Franny and Zooey,1955, 1957,1961. New York.
In this narrative, Franny and Zooey are siblings who do not understand one another. They are the youngest, though Zooey is older the Franny they struggle to keep a close relationship due to their differences. The story continues when Franny returns home from school and is faced to live with her mother, Bessie, and Zooey. We, as readers, soon discover the tension in the household and what is really going on with Franny. She becomes attached to a book that she carries around with her everywhere. She is so stressed out from her family finding out about her beliefs that she becomes indulged in the life of having an eating disorder. We soon discover that the book she has been carrying with her is about prayer. She tells Zooey about her new belief and he disagrees with her. He thinks its crazy for her to believe in something, he thinks does not exist. He looks at prayer like a waste of time.
Franny finally sticks up for herself and tells him "I rather belief in peace and enlightenment over fame and prestige." Zooey then realizes that maybe his sister has the right to believe in what she wants and pretends to call her, acting as his brother Seymour, to tell her to become an actress if she wants to act. Reading between the lines, we can tell that he is telling Franny to believe in what she desires and he will approve of her either way. A parallel can be drawn between these character's and their conflicts. Zooey's conflict is more about dealing with himself, and pushing away others. Franny's conflict is also dealing with herself, but in the sense of fighting for what she believes in. Salinger compares the characters amongst one another without stating the facts. Franny and Zooey appear to be total opposites, but if you read from an outward standpoint you can see they are both struggling to fit in and be who they want to be. There is a balance in this story concernig these two characters, especiailly how they treat their mother who seems to care for them a lot. It was odd to see how they both just shrugged off their mother and her opinions so easily. It made me think about myself and my own relationships with my family. The ending to this narrative should progress between Franny and Zooey and how their relationship has potential to grow stronger. This story raised many questions for me when I began reading it. I was confused about how Franny started off, because the setting put her on a date with Lane, and then next thing you know shes crying in the bathroom holding this book to her chest which we later find out is her book of prayer. Was she praying in the bathroom? And if so, what what she praying about? When Zooey's chapter began, he seemed like a difficult character to understand. He was cold, and nasty to his family. He seemed unhappy and looking for a something to fill a void. It was not until the end of the story, that I discovered the controlling idea in the text, and that it was that both siblings want to make each other happy. |