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59
The Themes of His Writings
Nonconformism in the Works of J.D. Salinger
A recurring theme in J. D. Salinger's stories concerns people who
don't fit in with the traditional American culture. Salinger's most suc-
cessful tales are of those who cannot adjust to the real world. His main
characters are super-intelligent humans who must choose between the
phony real world (American culture) and a morally pure, "nice" world.
Salinger's "misfit hero(es)" (Levine Paul. "J.D. Salinger: The Develop-
ment of the Misfit Hero."), unlike the rest of society, are caught in the
struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality.
In the aftermath of World War II, America was desperate for a
homogenous society. Different was definitely not better. "The 50s were
a period of supreme disillusionment" (Warren French. "The Age of
Salinger. Fifties"). Those who did not fit the mold were shunned,
treated as pariahs in the land of opportunity.
Zen Buddhism
That's why the writer-nonconformist is seeking for the light of
Verity in religion. Religious symbols and references are abounding in
his writing. Often the first thing a reader of Salinger's writings will ask
him – or herself after reading one of his stories is "What did that mean?
What was the point behind my journey?". As one critic puts it "Salin-
ger's mode of Zen Buddhism offers for this uneasy and unresolved con-
flict".
The teacher/student relationship is integral to Zen Buddhism. Of-
ten Salinger's characters will play the part of the teacher, while we –
that of the student, and/or another character will receive from them
(and their author) a koan to solve and thus reach our next stage of
enlightenment. One of the main ways Salinger uses this student/teacher
relationship to express his spirituality is to equate his characters to
various real religious figures and principles, in a way updating their
teachings to educate a modem audience who, like Holden in The
Catcher in the Rye, do not realize until after the journey how much
they have learned.
60
There are a lot of minor details proving the religion influence.
Here are some examples:
Like Buddha, Holden receives his flash of enlightenment after "medi-
tating" amongst wild animals (at the Zoo). He receives it not at a river,
but in the rain, water being a baptismal symbol in many religions. He
says,
My hunting hat really did give me a lot of protection, in a
way, but I got soaked anyway. I didn't care, though. I felt so
damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going
around and around.
Holden says it at the conclusion of the second last chapter, as he wit-
nesses his sister who he has worried about being exposed to the harsh-
ness of adult life and change, sitting happily on the carousel – itself a
"cycle".
The same enlightenment makes the famous Glasses' family be
unlike the rest of the world as they were religiously enlightened by
their two oldest brothers, Seymour and Buddy: "We're freaks, that's all.
Those two bastards got us early and made us into freaks with freakish
standards, that's all. We're the Tattooed Lady, and we're never going to
have a minute's peace, the rest of our lives, till everybody else is tat-
tooed, too" (Franny 139). As Zooey says, "the only thing that counts in
the religious life is detachment" (Franny 198).
Salinger applies to Zen Buddhism not only for ideas but also
uses the religion techniques of writings in his own writings. Often, as
stated before, his stories are koans, which the reader is beseeched to
solve. But he has also been quoted as saying in relation to his writing
(and before "Catcher" was published) "I'm a dash man, not a miler. I
will probably never write a novel." He is more content with short story
writing -a method of writing characterized by its compactness of narra-
tion and message. And one important aspect of Zen is to "convey the
message in as few words as possible ".
One of the Four Statements of Zen is "no dependence on words
and letters", and Salinger's message always comes across in the most
The Themes of His Writings There are a lot of minor details proving the religion influence.
Here are some examples:
Nonconformism in the Works of J.D. Salinger Like Buddha, Holden receives his flash of enlightenment after "medi-
A recurring theme in J. D. Salinger's stories concerns people who tating" amongst wild animals (at the Zoo). He receives it not at a river,
don't fit in with the traditional American culture. Salinger's most suc- but in the rain, water being a baptismal symbol in many religions. He
cessful tales are of those who cannot adjust to the real world. His main says,
characters are super-intelligent humans who must choose between the
phony real world (American culture) and a morally pure, "nice" world. My hunting hat really did give me a lot of protection, in a
Salinger's "misfit hero(es)" (Levine Paul. "J.D. Salinger: The Develop- way, but I got soaked anyway. I didn't care, though. I felt so
ment of the Misfit Hero."), unlike the rest of society, are caught in the damn happy all of a sudden, the way old Phoebe kept going
struggle between a superficial world and a conscious morality. around and around.
In the aftermath of World War II, America was desperate for a Holden says it at the conclusion of the second last chapter, as he wit-
homogenous society. Different was definitely not better. "The 50s were nesses his sister who he has worried about being exposed to the harsh-
a period of supreme disillusionment" (Warren French. "The Age of ness of adult life and change, sitting happily on the carousel – itself a
Salinger. Fifties"). Those who did not fit the mold were shunned, "cycle".
treated as pariahs in the land of opportunity.
The same enlightenment makes the famous Glasses' family be
Zen Buddhism unlike the rest of the world as they were religiously enlightened by
That's why the writer-nonconformist is seeking for the light of their two oldest brothers, Seymour and Buddy: "We're freaks, that's all.
Verity in religion. Religious symbols and references are abounding in Those two bastards got us early and made us into freaks with freakish
his writing. Often the first thing a reader of Salinger's writings will ask standards, that's all. We're the Tattooed Lady, and we're never going to
him – or herself after reading one of his stories is "What did that mean? have a minute's peace, the rest of our lives, till everybody else is tat-
What was the point behind my journey?". As one critic puts it "Salin- tooed, too" (Franny 139). As Zooey says, "the only thing that counts in
ger's mode of Zen Buddhism offers for this uneasy and unresolved con- the religious life is detachment" (Franny 198).
flict". Salinger applies to Zen Buddhism not only for ideas but also
uses the religion techniques of writings in his own writings. Often, as
The teacher/student relationship is integral to Zen Buddhism. Of- stated before, his stories are koans, which the reader is beseeched to
ten Salinger's characters will play the part of the teacher, while we – solve. But he has also been quoted as saying in relation to his writing
that of the student, and/or another character will receive from them (and before "Catcher" was published) "I'm a dash man, not a miler. I
(and their author) a koan to solve and thus reach our next stage of will probably never write a novel." He is more content with short story
enlightenment. One of the main ways Salinger uses this student/teacher writing -a method of writing characterized by its compactness of narra-
relationship to express his spirituality is to equate his characters to tion and message. And one important aspect of Zen is to "convey the
various real religious figures and principles, in a way updating their message in as few words as possible ".
teachings to educate a modem audience who, like Holden in The One of the Four Statements of Zen is "no dependence on words
Catcher in the Rye, do not realize until after the journey how much and letters", and Salinger's message always comes across in the most
they have learned.
59 60
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