A Perfect Day for Bananafish by: J.D. Salinger

Literary Elements Part Two

Connor Scarborough and Daniel W.

BANANAFISH

Olfactory Imagery - the room is described as smelling of new calfskin luggage and nail-laquer remover. This gives the reader a sense that something is about to happen you don't know what but you know it can't be a pleasant event.

hyperbole- When Muriel says that she has told her mother that she is okay ninety times. Shows how worried Muriel's mother is for her. This event also shows Muriel is tired of them worrying so much about her.

Literary Elements

"A Perfect Day for Bananafish" by: J.D. Salinger

Foreshadowing- When the doctor says that there is a large chance that Seymour would lose control of himself. This event foreshadows Seymour's breakdown that leads him to commit suicide.

Situational Irony- Everything in the story seems to be sunshine and rainbows but then Seymour kills himself.

Visual Imagery- Seymour describes the habits of bananafish and how they look like normal fish until they gorge themselves on bananas.

Summary

The story begins when Muriel starts to talk to her mother over the phone. Muriel's mother believes that Muriel's husband is mentally unstable due to time he served in the war. Doctor Sivetski says that there is a good chance that Seymour will lose control of himself. Muriel tries to convince her mother that Seymour is harmless and he would not hurt a fly. Seymour is seen laying on the beach with a towel over his face. Sybil, a young girl approaches Seymour and asks him to go into the water with her. After they enter the ocean, Seymour tells Sybil the story of the bananafish and its tragic lifestyle. According to Seymour, the bananafish eat bananas until they are rendered immobile and eventually they succumb to deaths icy embrace.

Characters

Muriel- Seymour's wife who tries to convince her mother that Seymour is not crazy and would never harm her.

Muriel's mother- Tries to convince Muriel Seymour is a disaster waiting to happen. She also tells Muriel she should leave Seymour for her own safety.

Sybil- A young girl that enjoys playing and adventure. Seymour easily convinces her to believe that bananafish are real.

Seymour- Protagonist, he has emotional issues due to time he spent at war. He spends the day playing with sybil and having fun. Seymour then proceeds to shock the reader by committing suicide.

Summary Part Two

Sybil is excited when she sees a bananafish with six bananas in its mouth. At this point in the story the reader begins to believe that Seymour is completely sane and that Muriel's mother is just paranoid. However, upon arriving back at the hotel Seymour is angered by another person on the elevator who keeps staring at his feet. Finally, Seymour arrives at his room and promptly decides to shoot himself in the head with a pistol.