Une journée parfaite pour le poisson banane par JD Salinger

Une journée parfaite pour le poisson banane, une nouvelle fiction de JD Salinger, raconte une journée de la vie d’un couple marié, Seymour et Muriel Glass, en vacances en Floride en 1948. Ils passent leur journée séparément, Muriel téléphonant à sa mère à l’hôtel et Seymour traînant avec une petite fille sur la plage . Alors que la mère et la fille discutent de ses problèmes de manière plutôt unilatérale (principalement de la part de la mère), Seymour passe une journée parfaite à la plage. L’histoire explore comment Seymour

Une journée parfaite pour le poisson banane, une nouvelle de fiction de JD Salinger, raconte une journée de la vie d’un couple marié, Seymour et Muriel Glass, en vacances en Floride en 1948. Ils passent leur journée séparément, Muriel téléphonant à sa mère à l’hôtel et Seymour traînant avec une petite fille sur la plage . Alors que la mère et la fille discutent de ses problèmes de manière plutôt unilatérale (principalement de la part de la mère), Seymour passe une journée parfaite à la plage. L’histoire explore comment Seymour Glass, l’enfant le plus précoce des enfants Glass, plus tard un vétéran de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, fait face à ses luttes internes pendant ses 3 jours de vacances.

En ce qui concerne les histoires courtes, c’est assez court. Sa lecture prend quelques minutes. Malgré sa brièveté, je ne le recommande à aucun des suivants : lycéens trop idéalistes, jeunes non cuits, personnes suicidaires et/ou mentalement instables. Autrement, Je le recommanderais à cause de sa qualité. En termes de contenu, l’histoire, avec ses thèmes, est unique. Il offre une perspective sur des sujets universels que je n’ai pas rencontrés avant de lire ceci. En termes d’écriture, c’est juste du beurre. Les dialogues que Salinger écrit sont impeccables. Même lorsque le sujet de conversation qui se pose dans l’histoire (alias poisson banane) est d’un autre monde, il semble toujours réel.

(voir spoiler)[It must be said that this short story is the first of one of nine in Nine Stories which itself is one of four books in a series about the Glass Family. The subject of the first short story is undoubtedly Seymour Glass, and the following stories and books attempt to explain the mystery of his death and his influence on the other members of the Glass Family.

In this particular story, the themes explored have to do with mental illness, innocence, happiness, and death. Throughout the story, there are many indications that Seymour is mentally ill; however, it isn’t outright mentioned. This is emphasized by his mother-in-law and during his interactions with others. His mother-in-law even alludes to the war that Seymour endured, but not in the way that explains his affliction. If anything, it was meant as cautionary advice for her daughter, Muriel. With the death of Seymour, however, it is clear that mental illness brings more harm to the ill rather than those surrounding. This seems obvious, but historically people have neglected and even demonized the mentally ill for their own well-being, in the same way the mother talked about Seymour.

In the second part of the story, the other subjects are explored. Innocence and happiness come in the form of a little girl named Sybil. She is one of the guests of the hotel like Seymour, and has become his friend in a few days. I would describe Sybil as innocently evil, naive, and infatuated with Seymour. This is inferred through their conversation which randomly leads to the topic of bananafish. Seymour explains,

« … They swim into a hole where there’s a lot of bananas. They’re very ordinary-looking fish when they swim in. But once they get in, they behave like pigs. Why, I’ve known some bananafish to swim into a banana hole and eat as many as seventy-eight bananas… after that they’re so fat they can’t get out of the hole again. Can’t fit through the door. »

Together, they spend a perfect day at the beach looking for bananafish. Between their interactions and dialogue, it is evident that Seymour derives happiness from spending time with children and therefore surrounding himself with innocence. As such, the events reveal that innocence is bliss.

In the first and second part of the story, Seymour is presented in different lights. In the first, he is thought to be sick. This is brought to light by another guest of the hotel who happened to be psychiatrist. In the second part, we have established that he was happy. Because the psychiatrist was a complete stranger having no reason to lie and no evidence suggests that Seymour was unhappy, we can infer that mental illness does not prevent happiness. Another possible theme is that society views happiness as a sickness. I acknowledge this possibility on the assumption that the psychiatrist made the conclusion having only observed Seymour play the piano which in itself is a positive activity.

In the last part of the story, Seymour dies without giving the readers any explanation. Nevertheless, Salinger leaves hints throughout the story. Aside from Seymour’s debilitating mental health, happiness serves as the major indicator of his death. This is foreshadowed by Seymour himself as he explains to Sybil that the bananafish die from their glutton due to an affliction called “banana fever”. This implies that their death is caused by an overconsumption of the thing that makes them most happy, bananas. Therefore, excessive happiness kills you. Ultimately, the bananafish symbolizes Seymour himself because like them he gorged himself of the things that make him happy whether it was Sybil or the piano playing. When it comes to his wife Muriel, however, I believe there is contention on whether she made him happy or not. Personally, I think that she did. For one, she was reading an article called “Sex is Fun— or Hell” which indicates that they were having sex at least. Moreover, they seem united as a couple since she defended him against her mother. With regards to Muriel, one can only really make a sound judgement once the other books in the Glass Family series have been read. (hide spoiler)]