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Posted by Robert Barish on October 20, 19101 at 22:33:42:
In Reply to: Re: For Esme with Love and Squalor posted by Matt Solimeo on May 10, 19101 at 21:32:35:
Esme stopping time for Sargent X plays right into J.D. Salinger's theme of innocence which resonates throughout the other stories in the book. The best example of this would be the laughing man. He covers mis face with a mask, as the chief puts on a mask in front of the children. The children do not see past this mask, of romance and adventure.
During the last installment of the laughing man, he dies because he essentially chooses to perish. It is important to note that he finally takes off his mask at this time. This also coincides with the breakup the chief has with his girlfriend, an who played baseball with the kids. Hence, the kids lost a piece of their innocence as well. In "A Perfect Day For Bananafish", Seymore reflects a longing for innocence. This is why he can relate to children so well. It also explains why he kills himself in the end. THe war has made him too fat with bananas (he has lost his innocence) and cannot leave his hole full of more bananas(false-truths). He shoots himself, because he cannot bear to float haphazard throughout life in such a manner.
So "For Esme With Love and Squalor" really is about this sargent X who regains a link to his lost innocence before suffering from war trauma. Time cannot ever flow backwards, but it can stop temporarily to allow him to remember a great loss he had suffered, and somehow return to it by sending a letter back to Esme. Esme will certainly get her squalor as Sargent X had.
I recommend reading bananafish and the laughing man before diving into this story. They will provide a somewhat sufficient background on the Gl family. Also read Franny and Zooey. If you are really intrested there is a biography on J.D. Salinger that really hits the nail on his philosophy of life.