Franny and Zooey
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Franny
Franny is the story of Franny Glass's weekend date with her collegiate boyfriend, Lane Coutell. The story opens with Lane, awaiting Franny's train arrival, re-reading her latest glowing letter. They go for lunch. Lane is ambitious and pretentious. He takes Franny to a fashionable lunch spot, and tries to impress her with his news of receiving a suggestion to publish his latest paper on Flaubert. Franny is clearly upset, questioning the importance of college education and the worth of Lane's friends. She is smoking, sweating and feeling faint and must excuse herself to visit the rest room, where after a crying spell she regains her composure. She returns to the table, where Lane questions her on a small book she has been carrying. She responds nonchalantly that the book is titled The Way of a Pilgrim and tells the story of how a Russian wanderer learns the power of "praying without ceasing". Lane is less interested in the story than in keeping their timetable for the party and football game, though when Franny faints, he tends to her and postpones the weekend's activities. After she wakes, he goes to get a taxi, and leaves Franny practicing the act of praying without ceasing.Zooey
Zooey is set on Monday, two days after Franny. The story begins with Zooey, smoking and soaking in a tub, reading a four-year-old letter from his brother Buddy. His mother Bessie enters the bathroom, and the two have a long discussion, centering upon Bessie's worries about his sister Franny, who is suffering a sort of emotional breakdown. After Bessie leaves, Zooey gets dressed and moves into the living room, where he finds Franny on the sofa and enters into conversation with her. After upsetting Franny by questioning her motives for her "Jesus Prayer", Zooey retreats into former bedroom of Seymour and Buddy, Franny and Zooey's older brothers. After contemplation, Zooey telephones Franny pretending to be their brother Buddy and gives her words of advice concerning her breakdown. Franny discovers the ruse, but she and Zooey continue to talk. By the end of the call, Franny seems to take comfort in what Zooey has told her.Zooey is a subtly moving story that paints an intimate portrait of the Glass Family. The unusual unbringing of the children, with radio appearances as child geniuses and philosophy around the dinner table, has created an unique bond among them. Though they are not affectionate and close in a typical sense, they understand each other more than anyone else could. The isolation of the Glass children from others is clearly set up in Franny, making it the perfect story to precede Zooey.
In Zooey, Franny finds the understanding and love she needs in her brothers. Franny desperately seeks help from Seymour, the psychologist, spiritual leader, and confidante of the family, who committed suicide on his honeymoon. Zooey comes to her this time and, when eventually speaking as himself, brings together the love and support of her three brothers. He shares the words Seymour once shared with him--words that taught respect, love, understanding, and integrity. Once the fundamental "secret" of Seymour's advice is revealed, Zooey leaves Franny to rediscover joy, love, and hope.
External links
- [Pari (at IMDB)]: An Iranian movie, unauthorized adaptation of Franny and Zooey and A Perfect Day for Bananafish.
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