J. D. Salinger's Just Before The War With The Eskimos

759 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: J.d. salinger’s writing style catcher in the rye

Just Before the War with the Eskimos – A Personal Response By Yash Arora After a first read of J.D. Salinger’s Just Before the War with the Eskimos the famous short story seemed insipid, shallow, and even superficial. The characters appeared to be without motive, and the setting, both time and place, gave the impression of being arbitrarily dictated. However, it was after a closer and more thorough investigation that it seemed evident that this was quite the opposite. Salinger’s distinct characters, meticulously chosen setting, and careful choice of vocabulary resulted in a complicated but multidimensional piece which explores a multitude of themes. Salinger wrote the story from a third person limited perspective, following Ginnie Mannox on …show more content…

After Ginnie notices the hardships of those around her, she no longer demands the money that is rightfully hers. With Selena’s mother suffering from an illness, Franklin having been injured, and Eric robbed, she comes to the realization that she should empathize with others, and thus does not accept Selena’s money. The philosophical debate over Ethics and Logic arises from this. Is it more just for Ginnie to take the money which is logically hers, or to be morally good and refuse it? Salinger seems to be arguing that Ethics are more representative of justice, rather than Logic, as Ginnie does not take the …show more content…

Considering war is mentioned incredibly infrequently throughout the piece, it is peculiar that the name would include it, which is distinct proof that it must be of significance. When Franklin asks, "We're gonna fight the Eskimos next. Know that?" (Salinger, 48) Ginnie responds that she did not know who they were. Furthermore, when she questions why, Franklin is unable to give a response. This is evident satire and mockery by Salinger regarding war, and how mindless it is. J.D. Salinger’s Just Before the War with the Eskimos may not seem to be the deepest or most thought provoking read at first, however, a more thorough read undoubtedly proves

Show More
Related

  • Terminal Avenue By Eden Robinson Summary

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eden Robinson’s short story “Terminal Avenue” presents readers with the dystopian near-future of Canada where Indigenous people are subjugated and placed under heavy surveillance. The story’s narrator, Wil, is a young Aboriginal man who struggles with his own inner-turmoil after the suicide of his father and his brother’s subsequent decision to join the ranks of the Peace Officers responsible for “adjusting” the First Nations people. Though “Terminal Avenue” takes place in Vancouver there are clear parallels drawn between the Peace Officers of Robinson’s imagination and the Canadian military sent to enforce the peace during the stand-off at Oka, Quebec in 1990. In writing “Terminal Avenue” Robinson addresses the armed conflict and proposes

    Read More

  • Jon Krakauer’s Use of Rhetorical Devices in Into the Wild

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people were puzzled on why the young man decided to go on such an expedition without being properly prepared. His death has led to a controversy between whether he should be idolized for having the courage to follow his dream or repulsed for his grand stupidity. Although Krakauer never met McCandless, he provides his readers with personal examples that explain why the young man went on this journey. Expecting his readers to comprehend McCandless, Krakauer’s primary purpose is to help his readers understand the importance of embracing one's personal dreams. In order to achieve his purpose, he uses a variation of literary and rhetorical techniques. Some of these techniques include epigrams and ethos. These devices are essential to Krakauer’s purpose because they illustrate and explain the reasons why McCandless went into the inhospitable landscape of Alaska.

    Read More

  • Grief For Allie in The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strauch, Carl F. “Kings in the Back Row: Meaning through Structure-A Reading of Salinger's `The Catcher in the Rye’.” Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature. Winter, (1961). 5-30. Literature Resource Center. New York Public Library. Web. 24 April 2008.

    Read More

  • Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    Catcher in the Rye is one of the most famous books in American literature. Written by J. D. Salinger, it captures the epitome of adolescence through Salinger’s infamous anti-hero, Holden Caulfield. Holden Caulfield learns about himself and his negative tendencies, and realizes that if he does not do something to change his perspective, he may end up like his acquaintance James Castle whom he met at Elkton Hills. Holden tries to find help to mend his outlook on life through Mr. Antolini so he does not end up like James, who did not want to face the problems he created for himself. This is proven by the similarities between James Castle and Holden, Mr. Antolini’s willingness to try and help Holden, and Holden’s future being forecasted by James.

    Read More

  • Butter Battle Book

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...es the American and Soviet officials for the lack of tolerance for one another and how that led to unnecessary military tension. Additionally, he uses the story to criticize military-industry complex that led to the Nuclear Arms Race. However, this tale is not only applicable to the Cold War. The wall between the Yooks and Zooks parallels the racial divide that dominated the US. While a seemingly depressing book for children, Geisel ends the book on a hopeful note. As the Yooks and the Zooks are on the verge of destroying each other, the book ends with a blank page to follow. This blank page represents the unwritten future—that the problems of ignorance and unnecessary militarization could be changed. As a novel to the future generations, Geisel’s cliff hanger provides children the opportunity to create their own ending, both for the butter battle in in real life.

    Read More

  • American Horse by Louise Erdrich

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    Louise Erdrich’s short story “American horse” is a literary piece written by an author whose works emphasize the American experience for a multitude of different people from a plethora of various ethnic backgrounds. While Erdrich utilizes a full arsenal of literary elements to better convey this particular story to the reader, perhaps the two most prominent are theme and point of view. At first glance this story seems to portray the struggle of a mother who has her son ripped from her arms by government authorities; however, if the reader simply steps back to analyze the larger picture, the theme becomes clear. It is important to understand the backgrounds of both the protagonist and antagonists when analyzing theme of this short story. Albetrine, who is the short story’s protagonist, is a Native American woman who characterizes her son Buddy as “the best thing that has ever happened to me”. The antagonist, are westerners who work on behalf of the United States Government. Given this dynamic, the stage is set for a clash between the two forces. The struggle between these two can be viewed as a microcosm for what has occurred throughout history between Native Americans and Caucasians. With all this in mind, the reader can see that the theme of this piece is the battle of Native Americans to maintain their culture and way of life as their homeland is invaded by Caucasians. In addition to the theme, Erdrich’s usage of the third person limited point of view helps the reader understand the short story from several different perspectives while allowing the story to maintain the ambiguity and mysteriousness that was felt by many Natives Americans as they endured similar struggles. These two literary elements help set an underlying atmos...

    Read More

  • The Sociological Effects of Residential Schools

    970 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to conservative conflict theory, society is a struggle for dominance among competing social groups defined by class, race, and gender. Conflict occurs when groups compete over power and resources. (Tepperman, Albanese & Curtis 2012. pg. 167) The dominant group will exploit the minority by creating rules for success in their society, while denying the minority opportunities for such success, thereby ensuring that they continue to monopolize power and privilege. (Crossman.n.d) This paradigm was well presented throughout the film. The European settlers in Canada viewed the natives as obstacles in their quest of expansion by conquering resources and land. They feared that the aboriginal practices and beliefs will disrupt the cohesion of their own society. The Canadian government adopted the method of residential schools for aboriginal children for in an attempt to assimilate the future generations. The children were stripped of their native culture,...

    Read More

  • The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, a sixteen year old boy named Holden Caulfield gets expelled from his school and runs away before his parents find out. He goes to his home town, New York, and encounters many people. Throughout the novel, Caulfield is still coping with the death of his brother Allie. His attitude slowly decreases and various signs of a mental disorder are exhibited through his actions and his thoughts. Some people believe that he does not have a mental disorder, he is just grieving; however, he has clear symptoms that he is suffering from depression and anti-social disorder. These disorders are shown when Caulfield takes everything in a negative way, talks about being depressed, thinks that everyone is “phony”, and talks about his deceased brother.

    Read More

  • War and Heroism in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is war? Is war a place to kill? Or is it a place where something more than just killing happens? War, as defined by the Merriam Webster is “a state or period of usually open and declared fighting between states or nations.” War, can also be viewed with romantic ideals where heroes and legends are born. Even the most intelligent of us hold some rather naïve notions of war. Upon reading Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, intelligent readers have been divested of any romantic notions regarding war they may have harboured.

    Read More

  • Rez Life

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    When a native author Greg Sams said that the reservations are just “red ghettos”, the author David disagree with that. He thinks there must be something else beyond that point. After his grandfather died, he somehow changed his mind. Because he could not think anything e...

    Read More

  • The Phony Theme of The Catcher In The Rye

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Roemer, Danielle M. "The Personal Narrative and Salinger's Catcher in the Rye". Western Folklore 51 (1992): 5-10.

    Read More

  • Character Consciousness Anne Enright's Yesterday's Weather”

    1257 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wilson, M. & Clark, R. (n.d.). Analyzing the Short Story. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.limcollege.edu/Analyzing_the_Short_Story.pdf [Accessed: 12 Apr 2014].

    Read More

  • Two Different Perspectives of Life Experiences with Indians

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    Franklin, Benjamin “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 476-80. Print

    Read More

  • Aboriginal People in the Canadian Military

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Regardless of the controversy with enlistment, Aboriginals contributed unexpectedly large numbers of men to fight with Canada during Worl...

    Read More

  • The Validity of Henry Miller's Radical Pacifism in Tropic of Cancer

    2703 Words  | 6 Pages

    It is hardly reasonable to expect a man who will forgo employment that allows such benefits like the necessity of food to attend to the needs of a war. Yet some people criticized Henry Miller because he did not take action; he hardly discussed the war in Tropic of Cancer; and, in their opinion, it is his moral obligation as a citizen-writer to address it. However, Miller is defensible only because his “mind is on the peace treaty all the time” (Miller, 143). The silence about the war in the novel suggests a stance of “extreme pacifism,” which is defensible because of his autobiographical honesty about his radical individualism and the artistic intent to describe the beauty of keeping in touch with humanity in spite of eventual annihilation (Orwell, 1 ).

    Read More

More about J. D. Salinger's Just Before The War With The Eskimos

Open Document