Novel delves deep

J.D. Salinger goes beyond the expected

Megan Charles

Mast A&E Reporter

First and foremost, this novel confirmed in my mind the genius of J.D. Salinger as a storyteller. The “Catcher in the Rye” is exceptional, but “Franny and Zooey” is Salinger’s masterpiece. The novel is gorgeous in both its simplicity and its honesty.

“Franny and Zooey” is a touching story of two lonely and confused siblings. In this engaging and entertaining read, Salinger presents the reader not only with an extraordinary cast of characters, but a healthy, effective solution for all those who are really discouraged youth at heart.

At face value, it’s a book about young people and religion. There is, however, a much deeper message. The characters of “Franny and Zooey” answer all of Salinger’s questions from his other works about society and human relationships.

What drives both parts of this story are the characters. Franny, the youngest in the Glass family, is about to disappear into the back of her parent’s couch during her spiritual crisis.

What keeps Franny from being self-involved is that she is so concerned with humanity on a religious level, and that her ambivalence stems not from her thinking she is morally superior, but conversely, that she feels just as hypocritical and shallow as the rest of humanity, and that she cannot rise above it.

In part two of the book, we are introduced to Franny’s older brother Zooey, who, though extremely intelligent, battles his own demons while attempting to help his sister deal with hers.

The story presents a number of themes, ranging from the conflicts of spirituality and finding one’s place in society, to understanding and appreciating family. However, the theme which seems to be closest to the story, and which seems to be most important to Salinger, is that of acceptance of one’s surroundings and the need for making each act a sacrifice to something greater.

Franny’s complaints about her professors and the audience and everything else are not disputed. Everything else isn’t the point. The point is that she must make her life, her every act, a continual sacrifice to something beyond her.

By making this particular point, Salinger responds to the questions that arise out of the world view he presents. He gives permission to contribute to and participate in a society he obviously frowns upon by taking the focus off society and placing it on the greater purpose.

This point may seem simple enough to understand, but to live life in such a way proves something else entirely.

"Franny and Zooey "

J.D. Salinger

208 pgs