At the start of the story "Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes," from J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories, we are thrown into a phone conversation between two coworkers: Lee and Arthur. A worried Arthur is calling Lee to inquire if Lee has recently seen his wife Joanie, as she has apparently left without notifying Arthur about her destination. We learn that while this phone call is occurring, there is a girl sitting in Lee's room intently observing Lee as speaks to Arthur over the phone. At first, the dynamic of the conversation simply appears to be one of a supportive friend, Lee, consoling his concerned coworker Arthur, assuring him that he has nothing to worry about and saying that wherever Joanie is, she will surely return to him soon. As we continue to follow the conversation, however, we get more and more clues that point to the fact that the woman inside Lee's room is actually Joanie, and that everything Lee is saying is not a genuine attempt to aid his friend, but simply a form a deception to get himself out of and future trouble. This notion becomes particularly unsettling when we consider Arthur's attitude in the conversation. Several times he states that he doesn't want to burden Lee with his problems or keep Lee up. Assuming the girl in Lee's room is indeed Joanie, Lee is the one entirely in the wrong here, but it is Arthur who feels like he is bothering his friend. Just as it seems like we have figured it all out, that Joanie is the one in the room, Arthur makes a puzzling second phone call to Lee, telling him that Joanie has returned home and that everything is under control. Through Lee's subtle interactions with the girl during his phone call with Arthur, we can deduce that the girl in his room is actually Joanie, and conclude that Arthur lied to Lee about Joanie's return, because he felt guilty for pitting his troubles and sorrow on his friend.
Right after picking up the phone, and several times throughout the rest of the first phone conversation, Lee's actions are very suspicious, indicating that there is more going on under the surface of this phone conversation. The main way in which Lee expresses this are through his numerous subtle glances towards the girl in his room. After he hears a mere one sentence from Arthur over the phone, Lee "glance[s] briefly left, at the girl" (116). Immediately after hearing his voice, Lee knows that it is Arthur at the other end of the line and looks at the girl. The fact that after hearing Arthur's voice, before even hearing his predicament, Lee's first instinct is to look at the girl indicates that there is a good chance the girl is Joanie. Upon realizing that it is Arthur on the other end of the line, Lee understands the situation realizes how much trouble he is in, and guiltily glances at Joanie as a result of this. This is the only plausible explanation that would prompt such a response from Lee. While we might forgive Lee and pass this off as a coincidence if it only happened once, it is the fact that Lee constantly makes these guilty glances towards the girl that further support the motion that his friend's wife is currently in his room. The second time Lee looks at the girl, he tries to be more covert about it, looking "left again, but high this time, away from the girl, who was now watching him..." (116). In the time span of what has to be only a few seconds, Lee looks at the girl twice. The second time, however, Lee doesn't look directly at Joanie, but looks above her, while still turning in her direction, making it appear as though he doesn't want Joanie to realize that he's looking at her. When Lee looks at the girl for the fourth time, he tries to appear as inconspicuous as possible: "The gray-haired man turned his head again toward the girl, perhaps to show her how forbearing, even stoic, his countenance was. But the girl missed seeing it" (122). This time, when Lee looks at Joanie, he tries to dupe her into thinking that nothing is wrong, by putting on a blank, unemotional face. He knows that if he appears worried, Joanie will realize what's going on and tries hard to prevent this through his stoic facial expression. Lee's constant glances heavily imply that the girl in his room is indeed Joanie.
So, if the girl with Lee is Joanie, why does Arthur call Lee for the second time, this time claiming that Joanie has just returned home and thanking Lee for his help? At first, when Arthur makes this call to Lee, the very belief that the girl is Joanie is once again thrown into question, but further analysis reveals that the notion still stands, and that it is Arthur who has lied to his friend in an attempt to relieve the perceived burden he has placed on Lee's shoulders, while cleansing his own guilt that he feels. Arthur speaks: "Yeah. She just barged in. [...] I just thought I'd give you a ring while she's in the john" (128) Arthur's tone of voice appears drastically different from the previous conversation. This would be understandable if Joanie had actually come home and Arthur's tone turned more relived and relaxed, but instead, Arthur speaks very casually, using language such as "give you a ring," and "in the john." Arthur's tone is so casual that his words almost seem forced during this scene, as if he is trying as hard as he cant to get Lee to believe his lies. The reason Arthur goes to such an extreme measure is because he has no knowledge that Lee is with Joanie. As a result, he simply thinks that his friend Lee is taking time out of his day to help him. This explains why Arthur constantly asks if he is "waking" Lee, and ultimately why he lies to him by telling him that Joanie has come home. He feels terribly guilty for imposing all of his problems onto Lee, and finally decides that he has burdened Lee enough, proclaiming that his wife has come home and that Lee can forget about it, even if this means Arthur must figure out his dilemma alone. Lee, who knows for a fact that Arthur is lying, because Joanie is still in his room, reacts accordingly, by "bridg[ing] his left hand over his eyes" and "leaving his fingers bridged over his eyes" (128). He knows that Arthur is lying and it pains him to see his friend have to lie to him because he guilty that he is taking up his time. As a result, Lee covers his face with his hand in frustration, agony, and guilt, knowing that it is he who is causing his friend all this pain, to the point where Arthur feels like he has to lie, but that he can't tell Arthur anything without jeopardizing himself.
I also thought that Arthur called in order to save face and not appear so pitiful towards Lee. But I read someone's post, and they think that when Arthur calls the second time, he knows that Joanie is with Lee. They point out good evidence that supports their claim. (Sorry I'm forgetting whose post this is. I'll comment if I remember). But I think I'm still leaning toward the side that says Arthur doesn't no. Because like you said, his voice is extremely casual the second time around. If I were Arthur I would be furious with Lee had I found out my partner was in bed with my friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I read the ending, too. I see Lee as a basically decent guy who has gotten himself into a bit of a predicament, feels badly about it but still goes to some lengths to be there for his friend (even, ironically, while betraying him). I see his drastic change in mood--a kind of sobering-up of his own--once Arthur tries to save face with a lie as a deep feeling of guilt and shame. There's something about hearing a good friend lie to you, not in order to gain some advantage or cover for themselves, but to save some pride (and Lee is part of the *reason* Arthur's pride is damaged, which makes it so much worse).
ReplyDeleteIt is possible to read Arthur as deliberately provoking Lee here, trying to get him to fess up--he has his suspicions, and he's trying to get a response from Lee. But something about his forced casualness in this second call--he's been through a long cycle, from frantic, to resentful, to just sad and alone. I can't put my finger on it, but he *sounds* like a guy doing a "forced breezy" tone, and you single out some of his most effortful "casual" language here.