Voice In Shoeless Joe By J. D. Salinger
Throughout the novel, Shoeless Joe, certain voices are heard by main characters Ray Kinsella and J.D. Salinger. Ray and J.D. hear several voices that put into motion main events of the novel. At the same moment Ray or Jerry hear a voice, they also immediately know what that phrase is calling them to do. The voices clearly pertain to getting people like Jerry and Moonlight Graham to come to the field and help the game of baseball. However, these voices can also be applied to other characters like Richard and John Kinsella who have their own heroes journeys. “If you build it, he will come.” is arguably the most famous quote from the novel, Shoeless Joe. Ray hears this voice in the middle of his corn field and sees a vision of a baseball field
with Shoeless Joe playing. The quote obviously applies to the journey that Ray goes on to build his field and have Shoeless Joe come to play. However, the quote can also be applied to the journeys that Ray’s family endured. Ray’s brother, Richard, traveled through Iowa City several times with his circus. However, once Ray built the field, a voice calls out to Richard so that he feels inclined to seek out Ray in all the cities he travels through. Ray’s father, John, also came to the field once it was built in the form of his younger self. John played low level baseball as a young man and is brought to the field so that Shoeless Joe’s team can have a catcher. The Kinsella family is reunited through the field. “If you build it, he will come.” not only brings Joe Jackson, but also brings Ray’s family together. This quote gives happiness to the Kinsella family by bringing them together and gives Ray satisfaction that he can enjoy his field not only because of baseball, but also because his family was able to be reunited. The voices apply to many sub-plots throughout the novel. Each character experiences his or her own journey in which several of the voice’s quotes can apply to. Richard and John Kinsella are a great example of how building the field not only brought Joe, but also brought together the Kinsella family. This example is only a part of the many times that the quotes apply to other characters. By digging deeper, the quotes can be seen as a universal theme throughout the novel that almost every character can share in.
with Shoeless Joe playing. The quote obviously applies to the journey that Ray goes on to build his field and have Shoeless Joe come to play. However, the quote can also be applied to the journeys that Ray’s family endured. Ray’s brother, Richard, traveled through Iowa City several times with his circus. However, once Ray built the field, a voice calls out to Richard so that he feels inclined to seek out Ray in all the cities he travels through. Ray’s father, John, also came to the field once it was built in the form of his younger self. John played low level baseball as a young man and is brought to the field so that Shoeless Joe’s team can have a catcher. The Kinsella family is reunited through the field. “If you build it, he will come.” not only brings Joe Jackson, but also brings Ray’s family together. This quote gives happiness to the Kinsella family by bringing them together and gives Ray satisfaction that he can enjoy his field not only because of baseball, but also because his family was able to be reunited. The voices apply to many sub-plots throughout the novel. Each character experiences his or her own journey in which several of the voice’s quotes can apply to. Richard and John Kinsella are a great example of how building the field not only brought Joe, but also brought together the Kinsella family. This example is only a part of the many times that the quotes apply to other characters. By digging deeper, the quotes can be seen as a universal theme throughout the novel that almost every character can share in.