J.D. Salinger served in WWI, even being apart of the D-Day attacks. He uses this element of experience in a lot of his writing. In Nine Stories there are many references to WWII and even his own position. In "For Esme- with Love and Squalor" the narrator, known as "Sargent X" was a non commissioned officer of intelligence services at the European front. This is very similar to the position that Seymour held before coming back to the U.S., also Seymour struggled with Psychiatric disorders and PTSD, the same that Salinger had. Salinger struggled greatly with social interaction similar to that of Seymour. Also Buddy Glass was in the army. In "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" Buddy Glass, the narrator, is on army leave to come back to mourn the loss of his brother.
"I found it impossible to fit into a society that ignored the truth that I now knew"- J.D. Salinger
In Franny and Zooey, there are very little direct quotes about the armed forces at all but, Franny does read Seymour's diary, who died due to PTSD. Also, Franny and Zooey's brother, Buddy is in the Army when this book is being written. Which is the same timing that when Salinger was in the Army
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction is a dedication to Buddy's late brother Seymour, who died after coming back from war. These short stories really describe the struggles of living with PTSD, just like Salinger. Reading about Seymour was more like an autobiography that Salinger wrote about himself.
"I found it impossible to fit into a society that ignored the truth that I now knew"- J.D. Salinger
In Franny and Zooey, there are very little direct quotes about the armed forces at all but, Franny does read Seymour's diary, who died due to PTSD. Also, Franny and Zooey's brother, Buddy is in the Army when this book is being written. Which is the same timing that when Salinger was in the Army
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction is a dedication to Buddy's late brother Seymour, who died after coming back from war. These short stories really describe the struggles of living with PTSD, just like Salinger. Reading about Seymour was more like an autobiography that Salinger wrote about himself.