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Overview

American author J. D. Salinger’s short story “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” was first published in The New Yorker in 1948. It later appeared as the opening story in Salinger’s 1953 collection Nine Stories. The central character is Seymour Glass, a World War II veteran on vacation with his wife, Muriel. The tale’s seemingly mundane conversations and events gradually take on deeper, and eventually tragic, significance. The narrative explores themes of alienation and communication, as Seymour struggles to connect with those around him. 

Explore a plot summary, an in-depth analysis of Seymour Glass, and important quotes.

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