Analysis: Franny and Zooey

Last time I shared with you my thoughts on The Collector. Today? Franny & Zooey. 


-----

Franny is the penultimate twenty-something striving for something more. Taking the advice of her brothers – one deceased and one living – she begins to read the “Pilgrim” books that mention this Jesus prayer. One of Franny’s annoyances is academia – specifically theatre and professors – because to her, these feed the ego instead of suppress it. At this moment in her life, she lets go of everything in hopes to attain a vision of God through her Jesus prayer. She has become a seeker obsessed with seeing.

However, you don’t quite get this at the beginning of the novel, and at times, it’s a bit confusing to figure out what’s going on. But Salinger’s use of dialogue is absolutely amazing, and his characterization of Franny, Zooey and Bessie are incredible.  Because of this, I knew intrinsically from the beginning that Franny was highly dissatisfied with her method of living, and Zooey was highly dissatisfied with Franny’s method of following their brothers’ footsteps. It’s only until he reminds her of Seymour’s “Fat Lady” metaphor that she realizes she can still do those things she loves – such as theatre – and not feel guilty. In searching for that one “Fat Lady” in the audience, she is somehow searching for a supernatural connection. And for Franny, that’s all that really matters.

Have you read this book? Are you reading it? What are your thoughts?

Analysis: The Collector

Over the next few posts, I'll be sharing with you my initial analysis of some of the books on your list. These are excerpts from posts I completed for my graduate course on fiction. Nothing formal - trust me. We were just required to share our thoughts. Some are short and to the point, others are more detailed. Regardless, my hope is it gives you a glimpse of the book as I see it and possibly sparks some interest if it's not your chosen read.

The first one is The Collector:

The Collector was John Fowles first novel. I’m not gonna lie – that kind of creeps me out. It certainly is a very psychological book, and I can’t help but wonder exactly what was going on in his mind when he wrote it.

Ferdinand/Frederick/Caliban has many turning points while he houses Miranda. I think however, one of the most important ones is when she says: “I can’t marry a man to whom I don’t feel I belong in all ways. My mind must be his, my heart must be his, my body must be his. Just as I must feel he belongs to me” (89).  This triggers his confusion of her feminine beauty. He has always looked at her curiously when she shows her mood swings and laughs in response to her knowledge of coarse jokes. Beauty, to this man, has no mind of its own. It’s the same with his butterflies. He captures them for their beauty and in their silence he enjoys them. This is why he is forced to make excuses about his ineptness in bed (106) and why, in a moment of weakness, he takes pictures of her while she is knocked out.

Alone with these pictures, he has time. He has privacy and doesn’t have to worry about performing for her. When it’s just him and her pictures, she doesn’t talk back (109).  

If you're reading this novel, what are your thoughts so far?