ipl-logo

Bananafish By J. D. Salinger: Post Traumatic Stress Di

1398 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ptsd paper causes and effects military

Yoni orange
English 10C
Research Paper

Does PTSD actually make a difference in one’s life? In two short stories, “A Perfect Day for a Bananafish” and “For Esme with Love and Squalor”, J.D Salinger displays the devastating effects of life after war, the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on individuals and their relationships, the universal struggle to find purpose in a world marred by the after-effects of war, and the importance of the ability to make connections. Both stories are set against the backdrop of post-World War II America, many soldiers returned from the war with immense psychological damage. In World War II 16 million American soldiers set out for war, 1,230,000 came back with everlasting PTSD (Friedman). …show more content…

In J.D. Salinger's "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," Seymour Glass personifies the difficulties that veterans face when trying to reconnect with others after experiencing the traumatic events of war. Coming from the death camps, Seymour “says he doesn't want a lot of fools looking at his tattoo”. Now, the reader grasps the depth of Seymour's emotional turmoil, recognizing the lingering impact of his traumatic past. (Salinger; Alexander) Another example arises, when a young child presents herself to Seymour at the beach, he then exclaims, “that’s a fine bathing suit you have on” reflecting on how he misses the years before, when he was not plagued with PTSD and guilt. (Salinger; Shuman) Shortly after, Seymour creates a made-up fish to play with the child; the fish is called a Bananafish, the fish eats continuously until it is too fat to move, ultimately dying. This serves as an example of how Seymour becomes a victim of gluttony. Lastly, whilst on an elevator Seymour accuses a woman of staring at his feet, screaming “if you want to look at my feet just say so, but don’t be a damn sneak about it”. When the woman denies this accusation Seymour becomes incandescent and begins thinking of suicide, knowing he cannot persevere in this world any longer. (Alexander; …show more content…

Galens, vol. 17, Gale, 2003, pp. 233-254. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3423100025/GVRL?u=mdk12btdcs&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=17428e38. Accessed 13 May 2023.

Peck, David. “For Esmé — with Love and Squalor.” Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition, Jan. 2004, pp. 1–3. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=103331MSS14529240001116&site=lrc-plus.
Blackstock, Alan, and Adrienne Pilon. “For Esmé — with Love and Squalor.” Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition, Sept. 2006, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=103331MSA25149830001513&site=lrc-plus.
Alexander, paul. “For Esme with Love and Squalor .” Ebsco, web.p.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=278b8188-e828-47c9-9f89-bef76c048b62%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLXBsdXM%3d#db=lkh&AN=103331RRR11640089900164.
Shuman, Baird. “A Perfect Day for Bananafish.” Ebsco,

Show More
Related

Analysis Of Erich Maria Remarque All Quiet On The Western Front And Modern War

1411 Words | 6 Pages

All Quiet on the Western Front occurs during World War I; however, Paul’s experiences as a soldier can relate to almost any veteran with war experience. Consequently, both WWI and Modern Warfare are extremely similar regarding the the soldiers’ experience with PTSD, which affected their overall mental health. Although discussed under different titles, each era of soldiers experienced this disorder. During WWI, PTSD was commonly referred to as “shell-shock,”

Read More

Case Study Of Cruzan V. Missouri Department Of Health

1766 Words | 8 Pages

No 3, 1991. , pp. 26-27. JSTor. JSTOR.

Read More

Marine Corps Issue By Johnny Bowen

390 Words | 2 Pages

War breaks the person, and traumatizes the mind. In the story “Marine Corps Issue '' by David McLean, the narrator Johnny Bowen learns about how damaged his dad was by the Vietnam War. Johnny learns that his father was in The Marine Corps, he earned a Purple Heart, and experienced Vietnamese torture techniques Throughout the story Johnny learned how damaged his father was. One way Johnny learns that his father was damaged by the Vietnam War was when Johnny discovers the Purple Heart.

Read More

Summary Of Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

1000 Words | 4 Pages

According to the article, Mental Health Effects of Serving Afghanistan and Iraq published by the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, “PTSD symptoms are more likely to show up in returning OEF/OIF service members after a delay of several months. Using a brief PTSD screen, service members were assessed at their return and then again six months later. Service members were more likely to have a positive screen - that is, they showed more PTSD symptoms - at the later time,” (U.S Department of Veterans Affairs). This Article presents the topic towards soldiers who suffer from PTSD serving war. Correspondingly, A novel written by Tim O’brien, The Things They Carried, takes place in the War of Vietnam.

Read More

Figurative Language In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

772 Words | 4 Pages

The grueling Vietnam War, disrupting the lives of soldiers and their families, un-packs its complexities through the journey of the soldiers. After the death of Curt Lemon, a fellow soldier, O’Brien exclaims, “War is hell, but that’s not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love” (80). O’Brien’s metaphor conveys his perception of the Vietnam War while setting a strong precedent of what the war really was like. Furthermore, it is evident that the complexities of war are hard to navigate as soldiers, tearing away at their mental health, revealing soldier’s experiences at war that corrode their overall well-being. Furthermore, this toll on overall-well being can be self-inflicted when soldiers assign blame to themselves as guilt culminates into lifelong burdens.

Read More

Clemmy Sue: A Narrative Analysis

196 Words | 1 Pages

On a damp, Saturday afternoon, in the rural southern town, of Wrongberight, Clemmy Sue Jarvis sits in silence on the top step of her front porch, sipping lemon laced ice tea from a chipped mason jar. The moment she observes storm clouds approaching from the northeast, she becomes vexed and contemplates building an Ark. All week intermittent rainstorms had hit the area, leaving in their wake, humidity as thick as the mud that converted the roadways into a never-ending slip and slide. Clemmy Sue, can live with the humidity, which she refers to as – the poor man’s sauna, however, she adamantly refuses to venture out onto the dangerous roadways. However, today she realizes deep down in her soul the only way to accomplish what she needs to achieve meant she has no choice other than to drive on the wet muddy roads. Therefore, late Saturday afternoon Clemmy Sue lifts her petite frame into the cab of her rusty Ford pickup and cautiously eases out of her driveway and slowly turns south onto Flat Bottom Road and follows it along the edge of the Dismal Swamp toward the isolated home of her dearest friend Estelle Louise.

Read More

The Last True Story I Ll Ever Tell Literary Analysis

2117 Words | 9 Pages

Learning and Impressions. Throughout my research and interviews for this paper I have learned so much. I never understood the history of PTSD and how it became a part of the DSM V. It scares me a bit that it wasn’t a diagnosis is written off as a norm until the 80’s. When reading about PTSD in The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell by John Crawford, I learned that sometimes you couldn’t trust everything being told to you from someone who just left a war zone.

Read More

PTSD In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

607 Words | 3 Pages

INTRODUCTION Hook: The horrors of war can leave deep scars on those who experience it, for many soldiers the wounds of battle can linger long after the fighting has ended. Tim O'Brien portrays the shock of PTSD, a condition that can follow troops for years, in a moving and dramatic way. Context:PTSD is a mental health disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Thesis:

Read More

PTSD In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

1504 Words | 7 Pages

The novel focuses on coping with the death and horror of war. It also speaks volumes about the true nature of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the never-ending struggle of dealing with it. In the

Read More

Stress Disorder In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

1556 Words | 7 Pages

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seems far more prevalent in Vietnam War veterans than in those of other wars: fifteen out of one hundred Vietnam Veterans have combat-related PTSD as compared to one out of twenty World War II veterans (“How Common is PTSD”). Although it is nearly impossible to pinpoint the root cause for the rise in PTSD in this generation of veterans, there are many factors that could have contributed to this rising issue. Many used to believe that these veterans were simply young, immature boys dragged into the war by the draft and were unable to cope with the pressures of combat: the average age for a soldier in Vietnam was nineteen and in World War II it was twenty-six (Roark 838). However, every war has its nineteen-year-olds

Read More

Theme Of Night By Elie Wiesel

868 Words | 4 Pages

The struggle for survival was a central theme in each of the week’s works. How does one survive in the face of horror? How does one survive in loneliness? How does one survive in the arms of the enemy? How does one survive with guilt?

Read More

Traumatic Stress Disorders In Unbroken And All Quiet On The Western Front

1474 Words | 6 Pages

Living with PTSD What is it like to live with a person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? What impact will this have on the individual's family? These are some of the questions I asked myself while researching my subject. In this paper, I will explore the effects of PTSD on individuals, making connections between two works of literature, "Unbroken" and "All Quiet on the Western Front".

Read More

The Dualities Of The Human Experience In For Esme With Love And Squalor

786 Words | 4 Pages

JD Salinger’s short story “For Esme with Love and Squalor” delves into the complex intricacies of the human experience and explores the juxtaposition of love and suffering. The vivid portrayal of the protagonist's internal struggles and interactions with the enigmatic Esme, the story presents a poignant examination of the dual nature of the human experience. Salinger employs a non-linear narrative structure and shifts between past and present to heighten the contrast between the titular words: love and squalor. The first-person perspective allows an intimate experience of the protagonist's mental and emotional turmoil, rendering his journey more compelling. The frame of the narrative as a recollection, invites reflection on the nature of memory

Read More

Annie Dillard's 'Nightwatch': Pilgrim At Tinker Creek

933 Words | 4 Pages

In “Nightwatch”, a chapter of the novel Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard guides the reader through an experience with migrating eels, creates vibrant mental images, and involves the readers with her own thoughts. This is all accomplished through the use of rhetorical strategies, namely diction, figurative language, syntax, and imagery; these elements culminate in Dillard’s intense, guiding tone that involves the readers with the eel experience. Diction is vital to creating Dillard’s fervent and guiding tone throughout “Nightwatch.” The use of gruesome and detailed words like “milling… mingling” and “seething… squirming, jostling,” causes the reader to erupt in silent shivers.

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of Gun Control Laws

1246 Words | 5 Pages

If not guns, it's knives. If not knives, it's clubs. If not clubs, what's next? As much as we would like to believe we live in a perfectly sound world, the reality is, the world which we live will always have crime. Contrary to popular belief, gun crime is not the only kind of crime there is.

Read More

More about Bananafish By J. D. Salinger: Post Traumatic Stress Di

Related Topics

Open Document