Monkish Monist Mockery: Religious Language in J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey

Abstract

J.D. Salinger stormed Utah Beach as an infantry member of the D-Day invasion. For the rest of his career and life, he grappled with the trauma of the second World War. He sought restoration in many forms of therapy, physical and mental, until eventually dedicating his life to the pursuit of peace and spiritual transcendence through Eastern religious traditions. This thesis examines the role of religion, especially Vedanta, Zen, and East Orthodox Christianity on Salinger's book, "Franny and Zooey."