How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Section.Paragraph). Though the story has no explicit divisions, we created "sections" to make the paragraph numbers more manageable. Section one is the scene in the hotel room. Section two is the scene on the beach to the end of the story.
Quote #1
She sat down on one of the made-up twin beds and – it was the fifth or sixth ring – picked up the phone. (1.2)
It sounds here like Muriel is selfish or at least self-centered. We have to wonder how this affects the way she deals with Seymour's madness.
Quote #2
"Did he try any of that funny business with the trees?" (1.23)
Salinger very subtly informs his reader of Seymour's madness without giving us too many explicit details.
Quote #3
"He told him everything. At least, he said he did – you know your father. The trees. That business with the window. Those horrible things he said to Granny about her plans for passing away. What he did with all those lovely pictures from Bermuda – everything." (1.49)
Seymour seems to have a very different take on death than most people. It's likely that whatever he said to "Granny" about her "passing away" was not taken in the spirit it was intended.