Symbolism In Teddy By J. D. Salinger

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For centuries Buddhists have contemplated the meaning of life and their ultimate goal to achieve enlightenment. In J.D Salinger’s short story “Teddy”, the reader is quick to discover that the main character Teddy is wise and philosophical due to his belief of his past lives, and his desire to reach his final enlightened state. The symbols that Salinger introduces in this story are the portholes that allow the reader an insight into the multitude of thought processes that take place in Teddy’s mind. Through orange peels and apples of logic, readers learn a vast variety of knowledge about Teddy.
Early on in the story, seemingly ordinary orange peels that are thrown out of a passenger’s porthole pique Teddy’s interest. Although young children …show more content…

Recurrently throughout his conversation with Nicholson, Teddy tries to propose that logic is the weight that drags people down. “You asked me how I get out of the finite dimensions when I feel like it. I certainly don’t use logic when I do it. Logic’s the first thing you have to get rid of.” (Salinger 190). Teddy’s ability to discard logic allows him the metaphysical state that separates the finite dimensions into infinite ones. The disposal of logic allows him to reach a level of spiritual enlightenment that is higher than the average being. Teddy then relates this to Christianity when he says: “You know that apple Adam ate in the Garden of Eden…you know what was in that apple? Logic” (Salinger 191). The apple of logic from the tree of knowledge is a powerful allusion that this ten year old makes. It allows him to relate Buddhism and Christianity in simple terms that Nicholson will understand; the apple that Adam ate dragged him down to earth. In contrast to Nicholson, Teddy detaches from the logical aspect of the world so that he has the ability to transcend. Logic is toxic to Teddy. He believes that children should be able to see the world with clean eyes, free of logic, but adults force logic upon them in schooling systems. “I’d just make them vomit up every bit of the apple their parents and everybody made them take a bite of... But I’d want them to begin with the

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