
In “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J.D. Salinger, Salinger depicts, through the estranged characters, that the lack of communication is the root of isolation. Some of the characters that experience isolation the most would be the two main characters Muriel and Seymour. The lack of communication amongst the two is what leads them into isolation. As a married couple they are supposed to have a strong line of communication that is never actually seen “In a Perfect Day for Bananafish”. However, there are various occasions in the short story where there lack of communication and isolation is seen. For example, when Muriel is telling her mom about Seymour playing the piano every night they have been on vacation, or when her mom and her are talking about the German poetry book he bought her, and lastly through the beach scene with Sybil and Seymour. For Muriel the isolation is not all-consuming like it is for Seymour, she might even be to oblivious to realize how bad it is. But for Seymour it’s enough to take his life. Salinger is arguing through Muriel and Seymour’s communication less relationship in “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” that a lack of communication leads to isolation, which often leads to self-destruction.

One of the examples of this lack of communication between Muriel and Seymour that results in Seymour’s isolation and ultimate destruction comes early in the story when Muriel is having a conversation on the phone with her mother she tells her that while she was talking with a psychiatrist Seymour was "In the Ocean Room, playing the piano. He's played the piano both nights we've been here"(4). This quote is showing that during a social event Muriel and Seymour are not communicating instead Seymour is isolating himself and playing the piano alone while Muriel is trying to socialize with others. Muriel also does not see this behavior as odd so she does not reach out to him, which only further isolates Seymour.

Another example of the lack communication between Muriel and Seymour where this time leads to both Muriel and Seymour’s isolation comes when Muriel is on the phone with her mom she brings up a German book she received from Seymour. She tells her mom that Seymour told her “that the poems happen to be written by the only great poet of the century. He said I should've bought a translation or something. Or learned the language, if you please” (3). This quote shows that there is little communication between Seymour and Muriel because he bought her a book in a language that she does not know and she still has yet to read it. This is one way lack of communication is isolating Muriel, first off she could have asked Seymour for help reading the book or learning the language and secondly she did not bother to read the book and connect with Seymour when she got it she waited for him to bring it up.  

A further example of this lack of communication leading to both characters’ isolations and ultimately Seymour’s unfortunate ending is the conversations revolving around Seymour being at the beach. There is no communication between Seymour and Muriel during the story and it seems to be the same case for before the story starts.  Seymour even goes as far as to tell Sybil " She may be in any one of a thousand places. At the hairdresser's. Having her hair dyed mink. Or making dolls for poor children, in her room"(6). This is not the case it turns out she is actually just upstairs in the room. Had Muriel and Seymour had any communication he would of at the very least had an idea of how she was spending her day. On the other side of things while Muriel is on the phone her mom asks what Seymour is doing on the beach and Muriel says " I mean all he does is lie there. He won't take his bathrobe off"(5). This is also not the case as it turns out Seymour actually goes into the water when hanging out with Sybil. Had the two of them communicated and Muriel known that Seymour does not just sit on the beach he actually does go in she might not have choose to spend her vacation up in her room. Same can be said had Seymour known that she was not out doing any of the things he listed to Sybil but merely sitting in her room he might have tried to get her to come out with him. But due to the lack of communication between the two neither knew exactly what the other was up to leading to both into isolation. Possibly the final straw for Seymour seeing that he kills himself later that day.

In “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J.D. Salinger, Salinger depicts, through the estranged characters, that the lack of communication is the root of isolation, and isolation often leads to self-destruction. Salinger is able to stress this through the character relationship between Muriel and Seymour who have a seemingly communication less relationship throughout the story. The lack of communication between Seymour and Muriel brought about intense isolation for Seymour, which lead to his demise. Communication is key to preventing isolation. 
