It's a Wise Child

It's a Wise Child is a fictional talk show featured in many of J.D. Salinger's stories of the Glass family. All of the Glass children were featured in the show, and it is said that the combined income from the show sent the seven children through college.^[1]

Salinger is almost certainly aware of Telemachus’ consciously cryptic reply to Athena when she questions him about Odysseus: "It’s a wise child that knows its own father." This oblique reference to The Odyssey emphasizes the quest for identity on which each of the Glass children has at some point embarked. ^[2]

References

^ Salinger, J.D. "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters", page 8. Little, Brown and Company, 1962
^ Galoway, David. "The absurd hero in American fiction: Updike, Styron, Bellow, Salinger." 2nd rev. ed. Austin: University of Texas, 1981, page 215.

[1] Salinger, J.D. "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters", page 8. Little, Brown and Company, 1962

[2] Galoway, David. "The absurd hero in American fiction: Updike, Styron, Bellow, Salinger." 2nd rev. ed. Austin: University of Texas, 1981, page 215.

[1]

[2]

See also

References