Jane Gallagher Analysis

                          Jane Gallagher 

Jane Gallagher is a Holden's childhood friend. When they were young children they used to spend time together. Jane's and Holden's relationship goes beyond sexual feelings, is a relationship of friendship and tenderness. They used to spend a lot of time together, held hands , Jane used to placed her hand on Holden's neck , they sat around, played board games and talked.

Jane is a sweet ,smart, funny, athletic and clever girl . Not the kind of woman that Holden is used to look for in bars (air heads, stupid and slutty girls). She is different; sincere , transparent and not a phony person . She is perfect from Holden's point of view and that is because he actually likes her . He really appreciates her for her person. Jane is a mixture of sweetness and bitterness; as it can be inferred from the book she is beautiful girl in a physical and interior way, but also she is insecure and has issues with herself and her family. Although this she is a strong girl because of the fact that she holds her emotions and she doesn't like people see her crying.

For Holden, Jane is beautiful and deserves the best because she is far from the usual. She deserves someone who treats her with affection and respect due that she is not a “one-nigh-stand”. So this is why Holden is upset when Stradlater goes out on a date with her and says he will try to have some kind of sexual encounter with her. Holden gets jealous, really bothered and concern that Stradlater hurts Jane.

By Jane's and Stradlater's date it can be say that despite Jane being a good girl she may feels a need to seek for affection in empty relationships. Since her family relationship is not the best and she is likely to be afraid of her stepfather for a possible sexual incident Holden deduce, Jane struggles trying not to let that situation break her down .

Holden loves Jane in a loving way in which he had never loved anyone before , she's like a light for him. She makes him see that there are good and honest people in life and whenever he feels lonely he remembers her and that somehow motivates him. Holden's sexual desires disappear somewhat when he thinks about Jane, the simple fact of her memory pleases Holden in a sweet way. Despite all this innocent feelings Holden has for Jane , he had never formally said what he really feels about her. And throughout the book in different occasions Holden wants to call Jane and communicate with her, perhaps because she give him a sense of compliance and safety when he feels lost, but regard this he never dares to speak with her. Throughout Jane, it is realize how hesitant Holden is and how most of time he fails to make a connection even so with people he really cares about.