"A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is one of my favorite short stories that we've read so far, although it is also a confusing one. I had to read this story three times before I started to understand it.
I hadn't really thought much about the title until we discussed the story in class. I'm still not quite sure what the significance of the bananafish story is, but I have come up with two possible interpretations:
1. Bananafish are like soldiers before they go to war. Just like soldiers are "normal" people, bananafish are "normal" fish--until they enter war or a banana hole. Banana holes are like wars, because both are dangerous (grenades and mines are more dangerous than bananas, but Seymour probably had to pick something that wouldn't scare Sybil). After the bananafish go into the holes, they eat lots of bananas. This might be similar to soldiers experiencing the horrors of war. The bananafish then get banana fever, the ichthyoid equivalent of PTSD. The bananafish are so crippled by their illness that they are unable to come out of the banana holes, just as many soldiers are so affected by war that they are unable to completely return to society. Unfortunately, bananafish die from banana fever just like some soldiers who are not able to adjust to society end up committing suicide.
2. Bananafish are like "normal" people before they become materialistic. After bananafish enter banana holes, they gorge on fruit until they become so big and ill that they cannot squeeze out of the holes anymore and eventually die. This is similar to the way in which people might indulge themselves in materialistic things so much that they become shallow. Although people do not necessarily die from being too materialistic, this story makes it seem like the focus on wealth kills their personalities in some ways. Muriel, for example, is so caught up with material pursuits, as evidenced by the smells of calfskin luggage and nail-polish remover in her hotel room, that she brushes off her mother's concerns about Seymour and fails to realize that Seymour is struggling.
What do you think the bananafish story represents?
Both of these I think are really cool interpretations, but I like the first one better. Although we can't know the real significance to the bananafish story, this first version fits very well with the rest of the short story. This version of the story makes me think about how Seymour instantly changed attitude after she said that she had seen a bananafish with six bananas.
ReplyDeleteI think both interpretations are very strong. I think the common thread of indulgence in the second one is very convincing. One could also think about Seymour I suppose, but these make more sense.
ReplyDeleteThese are both great interpretations. I had a similar problem myself trying to figure out the significance of the "bananafish" story and came up with ideas close to yours, though not as well fleshed out. I have to agree with Alexandre that the first interpretation sounds very likely, as it seems that it fits with Seymour's character and the story more than the second. However, I definitely agree that materialism (more specifically, maybe, the critique of materialism) is a constant theme in the story.
ReplyDeleteI feel like with all of the veterans' stories that we've read so far this semester, the first interpretation might be the one that comes to mind the easiest, and I do agree with the others that it probably makes the most sense in this context. That being said, I actually really like the materialistic take on the story, especially since so much of Muriel's introduction focuses on, as you said, her "material pursuits."
ReplyDeleteI’ll have to go along with the flow of other responses—I think your first interpretation works really well after we get to know about Seymore’s background. Your analogy of banana fever to PTSD could easily be exactly what was on Salinger’s mind as he wrote this. This was also probably my favorite story so far! It reminded me of Hemingway’s Cat in the Rain. In both stories, we see a simple interaction between the characters and some animal that evokes emotion and represents a larger, complex and problematic concept.
ReplyDeleteMaybe both of them work? Seymour feels trapped in the "soldier's banana hole" but he feels hopeless when he realizes that everyone is trapped as well. Even if he were to escape his "soldier banana hole", he would just enter another banana hole. Do you think maybe this realization eventually leads him to thinking that death is the best option?
ReplyDeleteGood point, Sarah! I agree. I think that Seymour believes that the people around him are trapped in the "materialistic banana hole." He doesn't feel comfortable with the shallow adults, so he would rather die than stay trapped with those people.
DeleteThese are very thoughtful, fleshed-out interpretations, Monica! I think you took some ideas that were brewing in all of us and articulated them very well! Personally, I don't think I can decide on ONE as the answer. Both the themes of war and materialism are present in this story, so it could likely be either. Maybe it could be both? Or even more? I don't think we'll ever know, but that's part of what fascinates me about this story!
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