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What is Identity in Literature
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Anke Dumoulin English Literature I Tine Kempenaers Wednesday 14:30 The green book as a representation of finding an identity in J.D. Salinger’s Franny In the short story Franny, the motif of the small, green notebook, filled with spiritual content, provokes the theme of finding an identity. The book represents Franny finding meaning in spirituality and using that to answer the question of who she wants to be. From the beginning of the story, there is a tension between Franny and Lane: “‘I've missed you.’ The words were no sooner out than she realized that she didn't mean them at all.” Lane too has his doubts about their relationship: “It was very clear that the sense of wellbeing he had felt, a half hour earlier, at being in the right place …show more content…
This could be because she is trying to pretend to be like other girls, to fit in, to satisfy Lane and not cause any trouble. Further on, Franny asks whether Lane wants his olive, and when she gets it, she realizes she didn’t really want it. This represents how she struggles with finding out what she wants, who she is supposed to be. The book, which stands for spirituality, might be a way for her to express herself. It is a “whole new conception of what everything’s about.” Franny expresses her disgust for people who want to stand out, to do something distinguished. She longs to be someone who has the courage to be a total nobody. Furthermore, the aversion against Lane’s appearance is also made: she compares him to a ‘section man’. That is, according to her, someone who wants to sound so brilliant, but while doing so, is destroying everything that is beautiful. Again, the need of Lane to ‘rationalize’ everything is emphasized, while this trait is opposed to who Franny wants to be. Eventually, the green book represents the answer to Franny’s question of who she is. That answer is, not a logical person like Lane is, but a person who does not pay attention to ego and appearance. She wants to be someone who finds value in spirituality and like that, find her purpose and
Young adulthood is often a time for maturing spiritually. Franny Glass, the protagonist of J.D Salinger’s novel, Franny and Zooey, began to question her religious beliefs, during this time of spiritual growth. Franny’s quest for religion caused her to become pessimistic, bitter, and emotionally unstable.
When Marie tries to ask the protagonist to take a walk, this action shows that she is trying to achieve Pauline’s dream by getting her outside of the house. Therefore, she could finally feel the true meaning of freedom. Nevertheless, Pauline’s mother’s response demonstrates that she wants her daughter’s safety more than anything. The mother tries to keep Pauline away from the danger, so the protagonist can at last have a healthier life. However, Agathe’s reply shows that her mother is willing to sacrifice Pauline’s dream to keep her secure. Therefore, the author uses contrasting characters to mention that safety is more valuable. Furthermore, the protagonist starts to describe Tante Marie and reveals that she always has her hair “around her shoulder” (85). When Pauline describes Marie, Pauline shows how her Tante is open-minded. In fact, Marie helps Pauline to let go of her limitations and to get a taste of her dream. Therefore, Marie always wants Pauline to go outside and play hockey or even to take a walk. These actions that Pauline’s Tante takes show how she is determinate to make Pauline’s dream come true. Thus, the author
All of these are components of J. D. Salinger’s writing style. While the tone of The Catcher in the Rye may suggest a lighthearted, entertainment centered novel, the work is, in actuality, a deep study of human emotion and sympathy, as well as a dark portrait of the wickedness in the world.
Franny and Zooey is spiritual novel that explores Franny’s journey on discovering the true meaning of her spiritual beliefs. In the beginning, she is having a mental breakdown due to her inability to cope with college; she attempts to resolve her problems by practicing spiritual beliefs but they worsens due to her lack of understanding. She is ultimately able to find the true definition of her spiritual beliefs when her brother Zooey intercedes her thoughts by explaining what her religious practices truly symbolize. She learns that the source of her problems is that she must come to accept the differences of others.
Salinger, J. D.. The Catcher in the Rye. [1st ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 19511945. Print.
Roemer, Danielle M. "The Personal Narrative and Salinger's Catcher in the Rye". Western Folklore 51 (1992): 5-10.
“...took off her slippers, and got into the bed. For some minutes, before she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, she just lay quiet, smiling at the ceiling(201).” Thanks to the words of wisdom that Zooey gave Franny by channeling Seymour’s “fat lady” metaphor that he taught the both of them, being primarily about striving for your ideal best, be idealistic. Overall, others opinions and values should not factor into your own self image. After Zooey said all this to Franny she no longer needed to question the way she views reality because she wasn’t lost on it
The monologue of the characters helps the audience to identify their personalities, some appear to be strident while some are dulcet. These characters come alive because of the wonderful performances delivered by the actors. Eugenia Fragos portrays Fran’s character effectively, establishing the notion of power as the audience evidently explores her interactions with her family high authoritative and controlling. Eugenia is successfully able to portray complex role, combining strength with aching vulnerability and helplessness. Nathan O’Keefe’s (Ben) booming voice overpowers his delivery, although the interpretation of the character’s turmoil is vividly reflected through effective use of expressions.
Giovanni’s Room is a beautiful, emotional novel that tells the story of David, a white, homosexual man living in Paris. David struggles with his own sexual identity and masculinity when it comes to developing a relationship with an Italian man named Giovanni. Throughout the novel, David finds himself not adhering to the typical white, heterosexual, American ideal – which causes him to constantly reject his past and any other aspects that form his identity. It is through David and his constant struggle to accept himself that Baldwin is able to form a connection between the internal and external struggles that come with accepting one’s identity. Through Baldwin’s work, one can see how he brings together the aspects of internal and external spaces
Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Print.
Imagine a world where gaining knowledge through the interpretation of observations from people’s past experiences and inputting creative ideas to improve a community’s problems was frowned upon in society. Placed in a greedy, war-stricken America run by a repressive government, Ray Bradbury’s groundbreaking novel, Fahrenheit 451, follows the protagonist Guy Montag whose occupation and sole purpose as a fireman is to burn any books discovered, due to the ban placed on them by the administration. Through his relationships with several different characters, Montag discovers the treacherous path of breaking away from society’s standards under the authority of a totalitarian government and undergoes a complete identity transformation. He risks losing his family, friends, and livelihood for the sake of preserving the knowledge
Ambiguity in literature after World War II reflects and explores issues of self and society. These two ideas often work against each other instead of coexisting to form a struggle-free existence. J. D. Salinger, Sylvia Plath, and Richard Heller illustrate this struggle with their works. These authors explore ambiguity through different characters that experience the world in different ways. Identity, while it is an easy concept, can be difficult to attain. These authors seek out ambiguity with the human experience, coming to different conclusions. Ambiguity becomes a vehicle through which we can attempt to define humanity. J. D. Salinger’s novel, Catcher in the Rye, Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Ball Jar, and Richard Heller’s novel, Catch 22 explore ambiguity experienced through an attempt to find self. Each experience is unique, incapable of fitting a generic mold created by society.
It is the consensus of most critics that Seymour Glass is the most important character and the leader of the Glass family. This is a point that is obvious from the stories that Salinger has written about the Glass family. Seymour is looked up to and revered by all the children in the family and is his mothers “favorite, most intricately calibrated, her kindest son”(Franny 89). When catastrophe strikes in Franny and Zooey, the only person Franny wants to talk to is Seymour. Why is Seymour the most important person in the Glass family?
Moreover, in Green’s romantic novel, finding confusion
When Robinson Crusoe resided in York with his family, he was an ordinary middle-class white man who didn’t have control,money, or power over anything or anyone. He chose to follow his ambitions and venture out into the New World in order to gain an esteemed sense of individuality. His desires to obtain control, dominance, and wealth fed the individual whom he was molding himself to be. Crusoe’s awareness of his own superiority is seen evidently through the changing of his identity depending on his location and whom or what he was in the presence of. His egotism and superiority over others was a constant throughout the novel whether he was in York, on a ship, or stranded on an island in complete isolation. The transition from his life in York and the life he grew accustomed to on the island enabled him to reinvent his status and title. The island served as a blank slate where he