Essay

Essay Topic 1994- In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, has a significant presence. Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay n which you show how such a character functions in the work. You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters.

Throughout the story, The Catcher in the Rye, we are able to gather than Holden’s ex- girlfriend, Jane Gallagher, even though she is barely present in the book, plays a significant role in the story because of the fact that no matter where Holden goes, or what girl he is with, he always seems to go back to Jane and think of the summer that they shared together and the jealously that he is now experiencing due to the thought of her now dating his roommate, Stradlater. Even though Holden and Jane were only together for a few months, it is obvious that he still strongly cares for her through the fact that he seems to surround himself with women, yet she is still the only one that he really seems to show any concern for whatsoever even though she is not necessarily present in the story.

After being expelled from prep-school, Holden decides to return home to New York, and along the way, he entertains himself by going to different parties, clubs, and enjoying the company of several women. Although he is attracted to some of these women, and some he is using merely for sexual purposes, Holden always seems to have Jane Gallagher in the back of his mind. Many times after being with a woman, Holden would recall random moments that he remembered spending with Jane, and will say how happy he was with her, which further prompts to the fact that he could not escape the memory of her no matter what he did. In chapter 11, Holden says,” She was terrific to hold hands with. Most girls, if you hold hands with them, their goddamn hand dies on you, or else they think they have to keep moving their hands all the time, as if they were afraid they'd bore you or something. Jane was different. We'd get into a goddamn movie or something, and right away we'd start holding hands, and we won't quite till the movie was over. And without changing the position or making a deal out of it. You never even worried, with Jane, whether your hand was sweaty or not. All you knew was, you were happy. You really were.” This recollection only further proves this point, and is a good example of how memories of a person that makes you happy will stick with you forever, and will a lot of times affect your thoughts and actions because they are all you can think about.

We are also able to see how Jane’s lack of presence throughout the book is still significant in Holden’s mind because of  the idea that he is so jealous of Stradlater, his roommate. After Stradlater came home from his date with Jane, Holden began to interrogate him, asking whether or not he had tried to have sexual relations with her. This is evidence that Holden still cares about Jane through his jealously for Stradlater and his insistent questioning about whether or not they had had sex or not.

Even though she is not significant in the story, Catcher in the Rye, Jane Gallagher still plays a significant role in Holden’s mind, as well as the actions that he took and throughout the book even though he tried to erase her from his memory by having relations with other women. No matter what he did, or who he was with, Holden never seemed to stop thinking or caring about Jane and the love and memory that still remains for her.