While reading “A Perfect Day for Bananafish", the mental illness of Seymour is clear to the audience. Similarly to many Salinger stories, “A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is set in post-war United States, and it focuses on the effects that many veterans faced when returning to civilian life. In the case of Seymour, his return to life outside of war was with his wife, Muriel, who is self-centered and uninterested with the the deteriorating condition of her husband, on a beach resort in Florida. Also, his in-laws do not understand what it is that he is going through, which only makes his stress worse. Social isolation, hyper-vigilance, and self-destructive behavior are signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Seymour displays all of them in “A Perfect Day for Bananafish". He chooses to be alone on the vacation, which is due to the difficulty he faces in his every day life. He plays the piano by himself on the beach, but he does not mind when he has company. In order to get away from his often judgmental family, Seymour finds himself talking to a less assuming audience. He enjoys the company of an “innocent” child. In the mind of Seymour, Sybil does not judge like the rest of the world. He is able to be himself with Sybil. In Salinger’s “A Perfect Day of Bananafish", Seymour’s relationship with his in-laws is the impetus for his demise and eventual death.

When Muriel talks to her mother, the diction used is very strong. Muriel’s mother starts off the conversation with, “I've been worried to death about you” (3). “Death” is considered an extremely strong word. Muriel’s mother is obviously worried about her daughter. The diction used in the conversation is a clue to seeing the way Seymour is treated by his in-laws. “Horrible” (4), “war” (5), “awful” (3). These words carry a stigma, one that the audience of inclined to place on Seymour, and one that the audience learns is basically true. But it is not just the diction that shows us Muriel’s mother’s attitude toward Seymour. The flow of the conversation is a huge indication that Seymour is cause for concern. As soon as Muriel is put through, her mother is bombarding her with questions about her own safety. At this point, Muriel seems not to be involved in the conversation. This shows the audience that Muriel has likely already heard all of this prior to this conversation. As their phone call progresses, Seymour is the main topic. It is unhealthy for a mental unstable person, such as Seymour Glass, to have a steady supply of hurtful words thrown towards him, which is what he has to face from his in-laws.

Through their conversation, the audience learns Muriel’s mother holds a grudge toward her daughter’s husband, who, it seems, is public enemy number one to the family. The worried and, as we learn, disgruntled, mother then goes on to as her daughter about the drive to Florida. The audience then learns of an accident involving Seymour and Muriel’s father’s car (3).  It is safe to assume that Seymour is less then loved by his in-laws. The lack of connection to others has a negative affect on Seymour. He also has a tendency to act inappropriately to others, and the phone conversion is proof of that. Seymour apparently said awful thing to Muriel’s grandmother about “her plans for passing away” (4). It is clear that the war has taken a toll on Seymour, and it is hard for him to make healthy relationships. This is clearly a reason for his isolation, his love of being alone. He lacks communication skills, which makes him imagine that he is constantly being judged.

In “A Perfect Day for Bananafish,” Salinger wants to paint PTSD in a horrifying light. His main character, the protagonist, the person the audience wants to root for, is so far gone that no-one can save him. And his family has abandoned him. He is slowly dying while his only connections to the outside world berate him. This leads to Seymour’s eventual suicide. It is chilling to think that this could happen to veterans, that their own families turn away from them when they need help the most. Salinger had a way of pushing the issues of a society to the fore, and “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” is no exception.
