Teddy (story)
| "Teddy" | |
|---|---|
| Author | J. D. Salinger |
| Country | The USA |
| Language | English |
| Published in | The New Yorker |
| Publication type | Magazine |
| Publication date | January 31, 1953 |
"Teddy" is a short story by J. D. Salinger, originally published in the January 31, 1953 issue of The New Yorker and reprinted in the 1953 collection, Nine Stories.[1] The main character, Teddy McArdle, is a ten-year-old child genius, who is returning home from England with his father, mother, and younger sister. The story centers on Teddy’s conversations about religion and philosophy with a young graduate student, Nicholson, on board the ship.
Teddy and the student discuss a variety of topics and the extent of Teddy’s knowledge surprises Nicholson. Teddy seems to share Vedantic insight about the nature of the universe. His explanation of the relationship between space and time closely reflect the Vedanta Karma theory and he claims to remember details about his previous lives. Teddy reveals that in a previous life he was a man in India who was "making very nice spiritual advancement," but stopped meditating after meeting a woman. He discusses enlightenment, and how to elevate oneself spiritually by purging oneself of logic. Just before Teddy parts with Nicholson he discusses the fragile nature of life and the theoretical way he could die within the next few minutes by being pushed into the empty pool by his little sister. Nicholson tries to take in all of this as Teddy leaves to go to his swimming lesson. Nicholson decides to follow Teddy to the pool but when he is "a little more than halfway down the staircase," Nicholson hears "an all-piercing, sustained scream—clearly coming from a small, female child."
Due to its unhappy ending, the story was "one of the most controversial stories Salinger ever published." In its review of Nine Stories, Harper's singled out "Teddy," saying it "staggered its readers ... and is absolutely unforgettable."[2]
In Salinger's novella, "Seymour: An Introduction," a meditation written by Buddy Glass about his brother, Seymour, Buddy claims authorship of "Teddy" as well as other stories in Nine Stories.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Nine stories. Salinger, J David. 1989
- ^ Alexander, Paul (1999). Salinger: A Biography. Los Angeles: Renaissance. ISBN 1-58063-080-4. p. 169-72.
- ^ JD Salinger: a study of the short fiction. JP Wenke. 1991. Twayne Publications, Co.
[edit] External links
- "Teddy" study guide and teaching guide - themes, quotes, teacher resources
- Full text of Teddy story, transcribed from New Yorker
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