J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey

J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey

Works Cited Missing

In the novel Franny and Zooey, J.D. Salinger uses the Glass family to deliver his beliefs on religion and society during this time. One way in which he does this is by delivering the novel into two short stories. One deals with Franny, a young female who is at a crossroad with her beliefs, and the other deals with her brother Zooey who tries to help his sister through her difficulties. Once this book was published in 1961, it was an instant hit and made its way to the best-seller list. Over the years there were many critical essays written discussing Salinger’s intended purpose for this novel. In A Preface for “Franny and Zooey” John P. McIntyre explores whether Salinger’s main purpose focusing on religion was due to the fact that he wanted to prove that religion should be more spiritual rather then dealt with in society. After reading this essay, I agree with McIntyre because throughout Franny and Zooey there are several different situations which the reader can see where the novel seems to support this insight.

The first example of how the religion aspect should be spiritual is seen through Franny and Zooey’s character. Both were raised with a blend of religions by their older brothers. They feel as though this has made them abnormal, which is not true, because being able to understand these different religions have helped them in several different ways. In order for Zooey to understand what is wrong with his sister he talks he needs to her. While discussing what is going on in there lives, Franny starts to explain to Zooey how she went to college in search of wisdom yet has found none. Zooey then asks her what she wants from the Jesus prayer which Franny had begun to follow. He also states that if she is hoping to gain things from it then she is just like everyone else out there. Franny later answers by telling Zooey that she is worried and she doesn’t know her purpose for following these prayers. This specific discussion between the two illustrates their differences. They are individuals and by understanding these different religions and prayers, it has helped them be there own “spiritual person” rather then listening to society and being fake.

In A Preface for “Franny and Zooey”, McIntyre says that “the worst they (Franny and Zooey) can say about our society is that they are too sens...

... middle of paper ...

...ives in that consciousness and this is ‘the idea’ he has to get across to Franny” (McIntyre 4). So by agreeing with McIntyre, we see that Zooey is a real person and true to himself and to his beliefs. When talking to Franny Zooey explains to her that he doesn’t feel she understand Jesus, that she is making more lovable then he really is. He calls him the most intelligent man in the Bible. And with this it shows that this is a good example of how religion in the book is more spiritual than anything else especially though Zooey’s character.

Philosophy and religion are important topics that Salinger tries to put forth through his novel Franny and Zooey. Through Franny’s breakdown he shows how important it is to be different and believe in what you think it right, especially dealing with religion. While in Zooey he shows what it is to be this way with your own beliefs. John P. McIntyre’s essay A Preface for “Franny and Zooey” supports this idea that religion should be something spiritual rather impacted by society. “His (Salinger’s) primary concern regards the individual's spiritual life, that real relationship between the person and the active Presence of God” (McIntyre 6).