Means by Which Salinger's Characters Pursue Happiness
Means by Which Salinger's Characters Pursue Happiness
J. D. Salinger in his stories portrayed people who don't fit in with the traditional American culture of the 1950s . The post war society was believed to be happy as standard of living seemed higher, American technology was soaring and, politically, and economically America played a superior position in the world. Though there were some radicals who were not contented with such a situation, they couldn’t accept a conforming way of live but they focused not only on a comfortable but meaningless life. Such radicals can be noticed in Salinger’s works. His main characters are super-intelligent humans who must choose between the phony real world (American culture) and a morally-pure, meaningful world. Salinger's characters unlike the rest of society, are caught in the struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality. They keep in touch with reality, but rarely accomplish anything extraordinary in the eyes of ordinary men. They attack the rules of society, and become victories only by escaping from its limitations. They do not conform to the material happiness; but search for a spiritual happiness. However, it does not mean that they are anarchists. An anarchist purposely disobeys society at every chance they get, and are generally troublemakers. But in case of Salinger’s characters we have nonconformists. Nonconformists do what they want, when they want. They don't purposely go against society, but if what they feel like doing it, they just go for it as they do not consider themselves as members of it.
Salinger presenting nonconformists uses various characters. There is a ten year old Teddy – phenomenal child, far from perfect 16 year old Holden, veteran of war Seymour Glass and a young girl – Franny. All the characters are tragic ones, they are lonely, surrounding world only pretends to listen to them.
Teddy lost his childhood, although he corresponds with professors and scientists, they treat him more like a curiosity than a human being.
“He is a mystic who receives his inevitable death with a spiritual equanimity that contrasts starkly with the logical and emotional egocentricity of everybody else in the story”
Inability to operate in the society also Holden Caulfield experienced; he in spite of being in a crowded city there was hardly anyone who could talk to him.
“He wants to be...