Taken from his Nine Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an
unnamed narrator, who is looking back at a period of his life when he was nine years
old. The story itself is a frame narrative (story within a story) and after reading the
story the reader realises that there are similarities between the Chief and The
Laughing Man. If anything it would appear that the Chief, by telling the narrator and
the other Comanches about The Laughing Man, is in some ways describing his own
life (though he is doing so through fantasy). The sadness The Laughing Man feels,
particularly at the end of the story when his companion Black Wing dies, is mirrored
by the sadness that the Chief feels when Mary Hudson leaves him.
Though the narrator does not appear to be aware of this connection between the
Chief and The Laughing Man there does seem to be further similarities between
both. Just as the narrator tells the reader that The Laughing Man’s face was
disfigured (and possibly made to look ugly), the narrator’s physical description of
the Chief also appears to be unflattering. Though it is interesting and possibly due
to being in awe of the Chief, that the narrator after describing the Chief’s physical
appearance also suggests that the Chief had ‘all the most photogenic features of Buck
Jones, Ken Maynard and Tom Mix’ (actors in the 1920s and 30s). It may also be a
case that by creating The Laughing Man (who is a hero to the narrator and the other
Comanches), the Chief likewise wishes to be seen as a hero (to the narrator and the
other Comanches).
The fact that the Chief does not appear to have any friendships with people of his
own age, apart from his friendship and relationship with Mary may also be
important. It is possible, that by not providing this information to the reader, Salinger
is also suggesting that the Chief lives for the time he spends with the Comanches
(and with Mary). If anything the Comanches allow the Chief to escape into a world
whereby the realities of his life (no friends) can be avoided. Although it does appear
at the end of the story that the Chief is unable to escape from the realities of the
world w
Though it is not said in the story as to why the Chief’s relationship with Mary has
come to an end, some critics have suggested that the end of the relationship has
been caused by Mary becoming pregnant. This suggestion (by critics) appears to be
based on the fact that while Mary is looking at the Comanches playing baseball,
she sits between two nursemaids with baby carriages. Critics considering that
Salinger, through the symbolism of the baby carriages, is suggesting that Mary is
pregnant. If this is the case, that Mary is pregnant, the fact that the narrator appears
to be unaware of this may also suggest his innocence when it comes to adult
relationships. Though the narrator is aware that the Chief and Mary have had a
fight, he never knows as to why they have fought.